Scheduling and planning maintenance and service in a network-based supply chain environment

• US 7,716,077 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Mikurak, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeCady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBERTSON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/444,889
• Time in Patent Office: 3,823 Days
• Field of Search: 705 7- 9, 714/47, 718/1, 718/100, 718102- 5, 709/104, 709223-226
• US Class Current: 705/7.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for administrating a network-based supply chain on a network. Operation of entities is monitored. Entities include server processes, disk space, memory availability, CPU utilization, access time to a server, and/or a number of connections in a network-based supply chain. Items including merchandising content, currency exchange rates, tax rates, and/or pricing in the network-based supply chain are updated at predetermined intervals. In addition, external data stored separately from the network-based supply chain is synchronized with internal data stored on the network-based supply chain. Contact information received from users of the network-based supply chain is also managed. Users include service providers and manufacturer utilizing the network-based supply chain. The items are altered based on profiles of the users of the network-based supply chain.

Claims

1. A computer-hardware-implemented method performed by a computer for providing maintenance and service between manufacturers and service providers in a network-based e-commerce supply chain environment, comprising:

(a) receiving at an e-commerce supply chain manager, using a computer, a plurality of notices for recommended maintenance and service from a plurality of manufacturers, wherein the e-commerce supply chain manager exists within the e-commerce supply chain environment and manages demand and supply planning of maintenance and service offerings from the plurality of manufacturers, order management and fulfillment, asset management, maintenance and service scheduling, inventory management, and distribution logistics for entities within the e-commerce supply chain environment;

(b) receiving at the e-commerce supply chain manager, using a computer, a plurality of requests for maintenance and service from a plurality of service providers;

(c) planning demand and supply of maintenance and service offerings from the plurality of manufacturers based upon availability of the maintenance and service offerings within the e-commerce supply chain environment;

(d) monitoring the availability of the plurality of manufacturers to perform maintenance and service within the e-commerce supply chain environment;

(e) managing the plurality of notices for recommended maintenance and service received from the plurality of manufacturers, and the plurality of requests for maintenance and service received from the plurality of service providers, within the e-commerce supply chain environment by matching service providers with manufacturers according to the planned demand and supply of maintenance and service offerings and the monitored manufacturer availability;

(f) scheduling maintenance and service at the e-commerce supply chain manager in a managed schedule based on the plurality of notices from the plurality of manufacturers matched to the plurality of requests from the plurality of service providers;

(g) transmitting the managed schedule for maintenance and service to the plurality of manufacturers or service providers who requested or recommended maintenance and service from the e-commerce supply chain manager;

(h) tracking the plurality of notices for recommended maintenance and service, the plurality of requests for maintenance and service, the managed schedule, and the progress of completing scheduled maintenance and service through a network tracking interface accessible within the e-commerce supply chain environment; and

(i) performing maintenance and service through the e-commerce supply chain environment based on the managed schedule.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of performing maintenance and service of the e-commerce supply chain environment comprises updating data items stored in the e-commerce supply chain environment selected from the group consisting of merchandising content, currency exchange rates, tax rates, and pricing information.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of performing maintenance and service of the e-commerce supply chain environment comprises synchronizing data stored separately from the e-commerce supply chain environment with data stored in the e-commerce supply chain environment.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of performing maintenance and service of the e-commerce supply chain environment comprises optimizing at least one operation of the e-commerce supply chain environment selected from the group consisting of server processes, disk space, memory availability, CPU utilization, access time to a server, and connection load.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of performing maintenance and service of the e-commerce supply chain environment comprises sending feedback response requests to the plurality of manufacturers and service providers of the e-commerce supply chain environment.

6. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising the e-commerce supply chain environment manager searching the data stored in the e-commerce supply chain environment prior to synchronization.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the e-commerce supply chain environment manager performing load balancing services that initiate and stop processes as utilization levels vary in the e-commerce supply chain.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of performing maintenance and service includes indexing received feedback from manufacturers and service providers.

9. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the data stored in the e-commerce supply-chain environment is indexed according to a profile for each framework user.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the manufacturer is a network bandwidth provider and the service provider is a network bandwidth distributor.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the progress of the plurality of manufacturers in completing scheduled maintenance and service utilizing the network, adjusting the schedule according to the progress of the plurality of manufacturers, and transmitting the adjustments to the schedule to the plurality of manufacturers and the plurality of service providers of the utilizing the network.

12. A computer program having a plurality of modules embodied on a computer readable hardware medium and executable on a computer for providing maintenance and service between manufacturers and service providers in a network-based e-commerce supply chain environment, comprising:

(a) a receiving module for coordinating receipt at an e-commerce supply chain manager, using a computer, a plurality of notices for recommended maintenance and service from a plurality of manufacturers, wherein the e-commerce supply chain manager exists within the e-commerce supply chain environment and manages demand and supply planning of maintenance and service offerings from the plurality of manufacturers, order management and fulfillment, asset management, maintenance and service scheduling, inventory management, and distribution logistics for entities within the e-commerce supply chain environment;

(b) a receiving module for coordinating receipt at the e-commerce supply chain manager, using a computer, a plurality of requests for maintenance and service from a plurality of service providers;

(c) a planning module for planning demand and supply of maintenance and service offerings from the plurality of manufacturers based upon availability of the maintenance and service offerings within the e-commerce supply chain environment;

(d) a monitoring module for monitoring the availability of the plurality of manufacturers to perform maintenance and service within the e-commerce supply chain environment;

(e) a management module for managing the plurality of notices for recommended maintenance and service received from the plurality of manufacturers, and the plurality of requests for maintenance and service received from the plurality of service providers, within the e-commerce supply chain environment by matching service providers with manufacturers according to the planned demand and supply of maintenance and service offerings and the monitored manufacturer availability;

(f) a scheduling module for scheduling maintenance and service at the e-commerce supply chain manager based on the plurality of notices from the plurality of manufacturers matched to the plurality of requests from the plurality of service providers;

(g) a transmitting module for transmitting the managed schedule for maintenance and service to the plurality of manufacturers or service providers who requested or recommended maintenance and service from the e-commerce supply chain manager;

(h) a tracking module for tracking the plurality of notices for recommended maintenance and service, the plurality of requests for maintenance and service, the managed schedule, and the progress of completing scheduled maintenance and service through a network tracking interface accessible within the e-commerce supply chain environment; and

(i) a maintenance and service module for performing maintenance and service through the e-commerce supply chain environment based on the managed schedule.

13. A computer program as recited in claim 12 wherein the maintenance and service module updates data items stored in the e-commerce supply chain environment selected from the group consisting of merchandising content, currency exchange rates, tax rates, and pricing information.

14. A computer program as recited in claim 12 wherein the maintenance and service module synchronizes data stored separately from the e-commerce supply chain environment with data stored in the e-commerce supply chain environment.

15. A computer program as recited in claim 12 wherein the maintenance and service module optimizes at least one operation of the e-commerce supply chain environment selected from the group consisting of server processes, disk space, memory availability, CPU utilization, access time to a server, and connection load.

16. A computer program as recited in claim 12 wherein the maintenance and service module sends feedback response requests to the plurality of manufacturers and service providers of the e-commerce supply chain environment.

17. A computer program as recited in claim 14 further comprising the maintenance and service module searching the data stored in the e-commerce supply chain environment prior to synchronization.

18. A computer program as recited in claim 12 further comprising logic executable on a computer system for performing load balancing services that initiate and stop processes as utilization levels vary in the e-commerce supply chain.

19. A computer program as recited in claim 12 wherein the maintenance and service module further indexes received feedback from manufacturers and service providers.

20. A computer program as recited in claim 14 further comprising an index module for indexing data stored in the e-commerce supply-chain environment according to each manufacturer'"'"'s and service provider'"'"'s profile.

21. A computer program as recited in claim 12 wherein the manufacturer is a network bandwidth provider and the service provider is a network bandwidth distributor.

22. A computer program as recited in claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the progress of the plurality of manufacturers in completing scheduled maintenance and service utilizing the network, adjusting the schedule according to the progress of the plurality of manufacturers, and transmitting the adjustments to the schedule to the plurality of manufacturers and the plurality of service providers of the utilizing the network.

23. A computer program having a set of code segments embodied on a computer readable hardware medium and executable on a computer for providing maintenance and service between manufacturers and service providers in a network-based e-commerce supply chain environment, comprising:

(a) a code segment for providing coordination of receipt at an e-commerce supply chain manager, using a computer, a plurality of notices for recommended maintenance and service from a plurality of manufacturers, wherein the e-commerce supply chain manager exists within the e-commerce supply chain environment and manages demand and supply planning of maintenance and service offerings from the plurality of manufacturers, order management and fulfillment, asset management, maintenance and service scheduling, inventory management, and distribution logistics for entities within the e-commerce supply chain environment;

(b) a code segment for providing coordination of receipt at the e-commerce supply chain manager, using a computer, a plurality of requests for maintenance and service from a plurality of service providers;

(c) a code segment for planning demand and supply of maintenance and service offerings from the plurality of manufacturers based upon availability of the maintenance and service offerings within the e-commerce supply chain environment;

(d) a code segment for monitoring the availability of the plurality of manufacturers to perform maintenance and service within the e-commerce supply chain environment;

(e) a code segment for managing the plurality of notices for recommended maintenance and service received from the plurality of manufacturers, and the plurality of requests for maintenance and service received from the plurality of service providers, within the e-commerce supply chain environment by matching service providers with manufacturers according to the planned demand and supply of maintenance and service offerings and the monitored manufacturer availability;

(f) a code segment for providing scheduling of maintenance and service at the e-commerce supply chain manager using the plurality of notices from the plurality of manufacturers matched to the plurality of requests from the plurality of service providers;

(g) a code segment for providing transmittal of the managed schedule for maintenance and service to the plurality of manufacturers or service providers who requested or recommended maintenance and service from the e-commerce supply chain manager;

(h) a code segment for tracking the plurality of notices for recommended maintenance and service, the plurality of requests for maintenance and service, the managed schedule, and the progress of completing scheduled maintenance and service through a network tracking interface accessible within the e-commerce supply chain environment; and

(i) a code segment for providing performance of maintenance and service through the e-commerce supply chain environment based on the managed schedule.

24. A computer program as recited in claim 23 wherein the code segment for performing maintenance and service of the e-commerce supply chain environment further comprises a code segment for updating data items stored in the e-commerce supply chain environment selected from the group consisting of merchandising content, currency exchange rates, tax rates, and pricing information.

25. A computer program as recited in claim 23 wherein the code segment for performing maintenance and service of the e-commerce supply chain environment further comprises a code segment for synchronizing data stored separately from the e-commerce supply chain environment with data stored in the e-commerce supply chain environment.

26. A computer program as recited in claim 23 wherein the code segment for performing maintenance and service of the e-commerce supply chain environment further comprises a code segment for optimizing at least on operation of the e-commerce supply chain-environment selected form the group consisting of server processes, disk space, memory availability, CPU utilization, access time to a server, and connection load.

27. A computer program as recited in claim 23 wherein the code segment for performing maintenance and service of the e-commerce supply chain environment further comprises a code segment for sending feedback response requests to the plurality of manufacturers and service providers of the e-commerce supply chain environment.

28. A computer program as recited in claim 25 further comprising a code segment to facilitate the e-commerce supply chain environment manager search of the data stored in the e-commerce supply chain environment prior to synchronization.

29. A computer program as recited in claim 23 further comprising a code segment for performing load balancing services that initiate and stop processes as utilization levels vary in the e-commerce supply chain.

30. A computer program as recited in claim 23 wherein the code segment facilitating performance of maintenance and service further comprises a code segment for indexing received feedback from manufacturers and service providers.

31. A computer program as recited in claim 25 further comprising a code segment for indexing data stored in the e-commerce supply-chain environment according to each manufacturer'"'"'s and service provider'"'"'s profile.

32. A computer program as recited in claim 25 wherein the manufacturer is a network bandwidth provider and the service provider is a network bandwidth distributor.

33. A computer program as recited in claim 25 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the progress of the plurality of manufacturers in completing scheduled maintenance and service utilizing the network, adjusting the schedule according to the progress of the plurality of manufacturers, and transmitting the adjustments to the schedule to the plurality of manufacturers and the plurality of service providers of the utilizing the network.