Managing access to and updating warehouse data

• US 8,001,019 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2005
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Phelan, Raymond Joseph, Tonhouse, Gary Anthony, Meyer, Douglas William, Sullivan, Patrick Lyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haider; Fawaad
• Application Number:
  US11/256,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20070094261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 705/29
• US Class Current: 705/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products manage access to and update warehouse data associated with one or multiple online data systems. A security role is established for each user of warehouse operation functions associated with the online data system. A method involves examining warehouse data and updating a status of warehouse operations, detecting a security role of a current user accessing the data system, and rendering warehouse operation functions and the status via an interface. The method further involves receiving a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions, determining whether the security role of the current user authorizes access to the warehouse operation function selected, and prohibiting access to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does not authorize access to the selected warehouse operation function.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing access to and updating warehouse data in at least one online data system wherein a security role is established for each user of warehouse operation functions for the online data system, the method comprising:

examining warehouse data and updating a status of warehouse operations;

detecting a security role of a current user accessing the data system by determining a work responsibility role of the current user;

rendering one or more warehouse operation functions and the status via an interface;

receiving a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions;

determining whether the security role of the current user authorizes access to the warehouse operation function selected;

prohibiting access to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does not authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected;

rendering a second interface corresponding to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected;

receiving input via the second interface to perform one or more of the warehouse operations;

executing the warehouse operations for which the input is received via the second interface;

updating at least one online data system based on the warehouse operations executed; and

generating one or more grief tables for storing items which cannot be received into the online data system;

tracking via the grief tables, the items which cannot be received into the online data system;

generating one or more auxiliary shipping tables for storing items in the process of being shipped; and

tracking via the auxiliary shipping tables at least one of intermediate issuing or intermediate shipping activity of one or more items between picking the items and final issuing or shipping of the items.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein prohibiting access to the warehouse operation function selected comprises rendering a read-only notice of via the interface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving input via the second interface to perform one or more of the warehouse operations further comprises displaying, at the second interface, tailored warehouse operation functionality accessible to the current user based on the security role therein excluding warehouse operation functionality inaccessible to the current user based on the security role.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving input via the second interface to perform one or more of the warehouse operations further comprises displaying, at the second interface, warehouse operation functionality accessible to the current user based on the security role and warehouse operation functionality inaccessible to the current user based on the security role.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

prohibiting access to perform the warehouse operations for which the input is received when the input is received for the warehouse functionality inaccessible to the current user based on the security role.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein executing the warehouse operations for which the input is received via the second interface comprises executing the warehouse operations for which the input is received when the input is received for the warehouse functionality accessible to the current user based on the security role.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

tracking at least one of intermediate issuing or intermediate shipping activity of one or more items between picking the items and final issuing or shipping of the items; and

tracking one or more other items which cannot be received into the online data system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering the status comprises displaying at least one of a priority or a number of pending items associated with one or more of the warehouse operation functions wherein the priority comprises one of the following:

immediate action required;

action required; and

no action required.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input via the second interface to perform one or more of the warehouse operations comprises receiving a selection of at least one of the following:

receiving inbound inventory;

picking outbound inventory;

packing outbound inventory;

shipping outbound inventory;

locating inventory data;

changing inventory data; and

viewing inventory data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the work responsibility role comprises one of the following:

a warehouse worker authorized to access all warehouse operation functions;

a quality inspector authorized to record parts needing inspection;

a warehouse stocker authorized to record a final bin location of a part;

a warehouse picker of parts authorized to record parts as picked;

a warehouse shipper of parts authorized to record shipment information;

a warehouse issuer of parts authorized to perform an issue of part transaction; and

a warehouse data viewer authorized to view one or more warehouse data screens without update authorization.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein prohibiting access to the warehouse operation function selected comprises prohibiting access to a quality inspection receiving function in response to determining the work responsibility role comprises the warehouse shipper of parts which does not authorize access to the quality inspection receiving function.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein rendering a second interface corresponding to the warehouse operation function selected comprises displaying a receipt of stock input screen having a location and condition input field in response to determining the work responsibility role comprises the warehouse stocker of parts which does authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected;

and

wherein receipt of stock information is retrieved by receiving and scanning at least one of an order number, a part number, or a purchase order number.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to manage access to and update warehouse data associated with at least one online data system wherein a security role is established for each user of warehouse operation functions for the online data system, the control logic comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to:

examine warehouse data and update a status of warehouse operations;

detect a security role of a current user accessing the data system;

render one or more warehouse operation functions and the status via an input screen;

receive a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions;

determine whether the security role of the current user authorizes access to the warehouse operation function selected;

tailor and render a second input screen based on the security role and the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected wherein the second input screen excludes warehouse operation functionality irrelevant or inaccessible to the current user based on the security role;

execute the warehouse operations for which input is received via the second input screen;

update at least one online data system based on the warehouse operations execute; and

generate one or more grief tables for storing items which cannot be received into the online data system, and one or more auxiliary shipping tables for storing items in the process of being shipped, the control logic comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to execute the warehouse operations for which input is received, track via the auxiliary shipping tables at least one of intermediate issuing or intermediate shipping activity of one or more items between picking the items and final issuing or shipping of the items, track via the grief tables, the items which cannot be received into the online data system, and update multiple online data systems via application program interfaces based on the warehouse operations executed.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to prohibit access to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does not authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to:

track at least one of intermediate issuing or intermediate shipping activity of one or more items between picking the items and final issuing or shipping of the items; and

track one or more other items which cannot be received into the online data system.

16. A computer-implemented system for managing access to and updating warehouse data associated with at least one online data system wherein a security role is established for each user of warehouse operation functions associated with the online data system, the system comprising:

an online data system server housing the online data system;

a web server communicatively associated with the online data system server; and

a remote computer including a display screen, the remote computer communicatively associated with the web server over a network, the web server operative to;

examine warehouse data and update a status of warehouse operations;

detect a security role of a current user accessing the warehouse data;

render via the display screen one or more warehouse operation functions and the status;

receive a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions via the remote computer;

determine whether the security role of the current user authorizes access to the warehouse operation function selected;

tailor and render one or more input interfaces via the display screen based on the security role in response to determining the security role does authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected wherein the input screens exclude warehouse operation functionality irrelevant to or inaccessible to the current user based on the security role;

execute the warehouse operations for which input is received via the second input screen; and

update at least one online data system based on the warehouse operations executed, the web server comprising one or more grief tables storing items which cannot be received into the online data system, and one or more auxiliary shipping tables storing items in the process of being shipped, the web server further operative to execute the warehouse operations for which input is received, track via the auxiliary shipping tables at least one of intermediate issuing or intermediate shipping activity of one or more items between picking the items and final issuing or shipping of the items, track via the grief tables, the items which cannot be received into the online data system, and update multiple online data systems via application program interfaces based on the warehouse operations executed.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote computer comprises a wireless tablet personal computer (PC) and wherein the web server is further operative to prohibit access to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does not authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected.