Providing accounting software application as enterprise services

• US 8,442,850 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Schorr, Martin, Sylvester, Michael, Dopf, Georg, Henrich, Dirk, Liebich, Gunther, Conrad, Michael, Reccius, Andreas, Klein, Markus, Hohendorf, Michael, Roesinger, Andrea, Soltek, Rainer, Kind, Juergen, Dinkel, Ralf, Zimmermann, Peter Von, Bock, Daniel, Laub, Udo, Schachner, Thomas, Paetzold, Gerald, Roesner, Kai-Michael, Himmelsbach, Edwin, Bachmann, Torsten, Faisst, Volker, Geisau, Otfried Von, Meyringer, Michael, Klein, Ralf, Krisch, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Boyce, Andre
• Assistant Examiner(s): FEACHER, LORENA R
• Application Number:
  US11/396,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20070233541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,602 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/8, 705/7.11, 705/7.12, 705/7.3
• 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 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• 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 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having accounting functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Claims

1. A computer program product encoded on a tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable storage device for, providing message-based services using a service-oriented methodology, the medium comprising:

program code for implementing a project management deployment unit including;

a project request business object is used to simulate several alternative project setups;

a project business object is characterized by a unique set of conditions and structured by phases and tasks;

a project snapshot business object is a copy of the whole project at a certain point in time;

a project simulation business object is used to find out about the effect of changes on an operational project;

a project purchase request business object is used to monitor procurement documents; and

a project template business object is used for standardizing a new project execution;

wherein the project management deployment unit further includes instructions for executing service operations including;

a change project based on purchase request confirmation operation operable to send a confirmation to a requester of the extent to which a requisition has been fulfilled;

a change project based on purchase order operation operable to notify the project about the creation of a purchase order for an external resource;

a change project based on employee time calendar operation operable to send a confirmation of working time for a project task;

a check task availability for accounting operation operable to notify of task availability;

a request service operation operable to request a buyer to procure external resources or services;

a notify of project operation operable to inform accounting about a creation or change of project elements;

a request project cost estimate operation operable to inform accounting about a creation or change of project elements that are costing relevant;

a request project cost estimate simulation operation operable to request to perform a synchronous project costing simulation; and

a query project cost estimate operation operable to query costing for the last costing result for project elements;

program code for implementing a financial accounting deployment unit including an overhead cost sheet object including a set of rules for the calculation of overhead charges, a time based accrual business object including the specification for accrual methods, an overhead cost assessment rule business object used for the assessment of overhead cost to the proper originators, an accounting view on project business object representing the project structure in financials, a general ledger account distribution run business object including an automatic periodically-executed rule-based posting assistant, an overhead cost ledger account overhead cost calculation run business object including an automatic calculation run to calculate and post the overhead costs at period end, an overhead cost assessment run business object including an automatic rule-based calculation of collected amounts and quantities in overhead cost ledger accounts based on key figures or keys, an accounts receivable payable ledger account foreign currency re-measurement run business object including an automatic period-end re-measurement of foreign currency amounts, a work in process clearing run business object including an automatic clearing of work in process at period end, a sales ledger account business object including a view of sales activities defined for financial accounting purposes, a production ledger account overhead cost calculation run business object including an automatic calculation run to calculate and post the overhead costs at period end, a sales ledger account overhead cost calculation run business object including an automatic calculation run to calculate and post the overhead costs at period end, a fixed asset depreciation run business object including an automatic depreciation of asset values for a set of fixed assets, a balance carry forward run business object including an automatic carry forward of year end balances for all general ledger accounts and fixed assets to the following fiscal year, an inventory price change run business object including a change to the inventory price, an accounts receivable payable ledger account regrouping run business object including an automatic transfer posting of valuated receivables and payables for a set of accounts receivable payable ledger accounts, an accounting entry business object used to directly enter business transactions in financial accounting, an accounting document business object representing a business transaction in financial accounting, a goods receipt invoice receipt clearing run business object including an automatic calculation of price variances between the valuated goods received and the related invoice received at period end, an overhead cost distribution run business object including an automatic periodically-executed rule-based posting assistant, a general ledger account assessment run business object including an automatic rule-based calculation of collected amounts and quantities in general ledger accounts, an other direct cost ledger account including a record of debit and credit entries showing an effect of business transactions on costs as a result of a particular job or activity, an accounting notification business object including a common input channel for all kinds of operational business transactions into financial accounting, a sales ledger account accruals run business object including an automatic valuation of sales transactions for a set of sales ledger accounts at period end, an accounting adjustment run business object including an automatic valuation of a set of ledger accounts, an accounts receivable payable ledger account discounting run business object including an automatic discounting of valuated payables and receivables, a cash ledger account foreign currency re-measurement run business object including an automatic re-measurement of foreign currency amounts, a purchase ledger account business object including a view of purchasing activities defined for financial accounting purposes, a cash ledger account business object including a record of the valuated liquid assets of a company, a material ledger account business object including a record of materials assets in a company that are relevant to valuation, a production ledger account business object including a view of production related business transactions defined for financial accounting purposes, a chart of accounts business object used to chart account status, a general ledger account business object including a view of the value of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses for financial accounting purposes, an overhead cost ledger account business object including a record of the costs incurred by the provision of resources, a fixed asset business object including a view of one or more objects, rights, or other items owned by the enterprise that is intended for long-term use, a tax ledger account business object including a summary of tax liabilities defined for financial accounting purposes, an accounts receivable payable ledger account business object including a record of valuated payables and receivables of a company for a specific business partner, a project cost estimate business object including a listing of the elements of a project that incur costs, a service product valuation data business object representing internal prices for valuation of business transactions related to a service product or a service product group and for cost estimation, a material valuation data business object representing internal prices for the valuation of business transactions related to a material or a material group, for material inventory valuation and for cost estimation, a resource valuation data business object representing internal prices for the valuation of business transactions related to a material or a material group, for material inventory valuation and for cost estimation, an overhead cost scheme business object representing a set of rules for the calculation of overhead charges, a financial accounting view of project business object representing a financial accounting project and its structure, an overhead cost assessment rule business object specifying costs to be allocated and the assessment base to calculate charges, a general ledger account balance distribution run business object specifying balances accrued on profit and loss and balance sheet accounts to be distributed, a time based accrual business object representing an assignment of revenues or expenses relating to services provided over a period to the correct periods in terms of accepted accounting practice, and a material cost estimate business object including a listing of the elements involved in the procurement or production of a material that incur costs, wherein the financial accounting deployment unit further includes instructions for executing service operations including;

a create accounting entry operation operable to receive an accounting document from another instance of accounting;

a maintain subledger account operation operable to receive a project accounting notification from project processing;

a create accounting document operation operable to receive an expense accounting notification from expense and reimbursement processing;

a synchronous valuate product and resource operation operable to synchronize access to price information for products;

a maintain project cost estimate operation operable to inform costing document processing about the creation or change of project elements that are costing relevant;

a cancel accounting document operation operable to receive an expense accounting notification from expense and reimbursement processing; and

a simulate project cost estimate operation operable to request performance of a synchronous project costing simulation and response;

wherein each of the said project management and financial accounting deployment units are deployable and executable.

2. A computer program product encoded on a tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable storage device for providing message-based services using a service-oriented methodology, the medium comprising:

a change project based on purchase request confirmation operation operable to send a confirmation to a requester of the extent to which a requisition has been fulfilled;

a change project based on purchase order operation operable to notify the project about the creation of a purchase order for an external resource;

a change project based on employee time calendar operation operable to send a confirmation of working time for a project task;

a check task availability for accounting operation operable to notify of task availability;

a request service operation operable to request a buyer to procure external resources or services;

a notify of project operation operable to inform accounting about a creation or change of project elements;

a request project cost estimate operation operable to inform accounting about a creation or change of project elements that are costing relevant;

a request project cost estimate simulation operation operable to request to perform a synchronous project costing simulation;

a query project cost estimate operation operable to query costing for the last costing result for project elements;

a create accounting entry operation operable to receive an accounting document from another instance of accounting;

a maintain subledger account operation operable to receive a project accounting notification from project processing;

a create accounting document operation operable to receive an expense accounting notification from expense and reimbursement processing;

a synchronous valuate product and resource operation operable to synchronize access to price information for products;

a maintain project cost estimate operation operable to inform costing document processing about the creation or change of project elements that are costing relevant;

a cancel accounting document operation operable to receive an expense accounting notification from expense and reimbursement processing; and

a simulate project cost estimate operation operable to request performance of a synchronous project costing simulation and response;

wherein the computer software comprises;

a plurality of process components, each of the process components being a package of software deployed and executing on the computer system and implementing a respective and distinct business process, the plurality of process components including;

a project processing process component used to structure, plan and execute short-term measures and complex projects, the project processing process component including a project request business object that is used to simulate several alternative project setups, a project business object that is characterized by a unique set of conditions and structured by phases and tasks, a project snapshot business object that is a copy of the whole project at a certain point in time, a project simulation business object is used to find out about the effect of changes on an operational project, a project purchase request business object that is used to monitor procurement documents, and a project template business object that is used for standardizing a new project execution;

a costing process component including a material cost estimate business object that is a listing of the elements involved in the procurement or production of a material that incur costs, a project cost estimate business object that is a listing of the elements of a project that incur costs;

an accounting process component used to record all relevant business transactions in financial accounting, the accounting process component including an overhead cost sheet business object that is a set of rules for the calculation of overhead charges, a time based accrual business object that is the specification for accrual methods, an overhead cost assessment rule business object that is used for the assessment of overhead cost to the proper originators, an accounting view on project business object that represents the project structure in financials, a general ledger account distribution run business object that is an automatic, periodically executed, rule based posting assistant, an overhead cost ledger account overhead cost calculation run business object that is an automatic calculation run to calculate and post the overhead costs at period end, an overhead cost assessment run business object that is an automatic, rule based calculation of collected amounts and quantities in overhead cost ledger accounts based on key figures or keys, an accounts receivable payable ledger account foreign currency re-measurement run business object that is an automatic period-end re-measurement of foreign currency amounts, a work in process clearing run business object that is an automatic clearing of work in process at period end, a sales ledger account business object that is a view of sales activities defined for financial accounting purposes, a production ledger account overhead cost calculation run business object that is an automatic calculation run to calculate and post the overhead costs at period end, a sales ledger account overhead cost calculation run business object that is an automatic calculation run to calculate and post the overhead costs at period end, a fixed asset depreciation run business object that is an automatic depreciation of asset values for a set of fixed assets, a balance carry forward run business object that is the automatic carry forward of year end balances for all general ledger accounts and fixed assets to the following fiscal year, an inventory price change run business object that is a change to the inventory price, an accounts receivable payable ledger account regrouping run business object that is an automatic transfer posting of valuated receivables and payables for a set of accounts receivable payable ledger accounts, an accounting document business object that represents a business transaction in financial accounting, a goods receipt invoice receipt clearing run business object that is an automatic calculation of price variances between the valuated goods received and the related invoice received at period end, an overhead cost distribution run business object that is an automatic, periodically executed, rule based posting assistant, a general ledger account assessment run business object that is an automatic, rule based calculation of collected amounts and quantities in general ledger accounts, an other direct cost ledger account business object that is a record of debit and credit entries belonging to a company that shows the effect of business transactions on costs as a result of a particular job or activity, an accounting notification business object that is an common input channel for all kinds of operational business transactions into financial accounting, a sales ledger account accruals run business object that is an automatic valuation of sales transactions for a set of sales ledger accounts at period end, the accounting adjustment run, an accounting adjustment run business object that is an automatic valuation of, or an automatic value changing process for a set of ledger accounts, an accounts receivable payable ledger account discounting run business object that is an automatic discounting of valuated payables and receivables, a cash ledger account foreign currency re-measurement run business object that is an automatic re-measurement of foreign currency amounts, a purchase ledger account business object that is a view of purchasing activities defined for financial accounting purposes, a cash ledger account business object that is a record of the valuated liquid assets of a company, a material ledger account business object that is a record of the quantities, values, and prices for materials in a company that are relevant to valuation, a chart of accounts business object that is used to chart account status, a general ledger account business object that is a view of the value of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses for financial accounting purposes, an overhead cost ledger account business object that is a record of the costs incurred by the provision of resources, a fixed asset business object that is a view of one or more objects, rights, or other items owned by the enterprise that are intended for long-term use, a tax ledger account business object that is a summary of tax liabilities defined for financial accounting purposes, and an accounts receivable payable ledger account business object that is a record of valuated payables and receivables of a company for a specific business partner; and

a financial accounting master data management process component used to enable a company to manage rules that are used by accounting and costing, the financial accounting master data management process component including a service product valuation data business object that represents internal prices for the valuation of business transactions related to a service product or a service product group and for cost estimation, a material valuation data business object that represents internal prices for the valuation of business transactions related to a material or a material group, for material inventory valuation and for cost estimation, a resource valuation data business object that represents attributes and internal cost rates for the valuation of business transactions related to a resource and for cost estimation, an overhead cost scheme business object that represents a set of rules for the calculation of overhead charges, a financial accounting view of project business object that represents a financial accounting project and its structure, an overhead cost assessment rule business object that specifies which costs are to be allocated, the receivers, and the assessment base to calculate the charges, a general ledger account balance distribution run business object that specifies which balances accrued on profit and loss or balance sheet accounts are to be distributed, and a time based accrual business object that represents an assignment of revenues or expenses relating to services provided over a period to the correct periods in terms of accepted accounting practice;

and wherein;

the project processing process component implements the change project based on purchase request confirmation, the change project based on purchase order, the change project based on employee time calendar, the check project task availability for accounting, the request service, the notify of project, the request project cost estimate, the request project cost estimate simulation, and the query project cost estimate service operations;

and the accounting process component implements the create accounting entry, the maintain subledger account, the create accounting document, the cancel accounting document, the simulate project cost estimate, and the query project cost estimate operation;

program code for implementing a project processing process component used to structure, plan and execute short-term measures and complex projects, the project processing process component including a project request business object that is used to simulate several alternative project setups, a project business object that is characterized by a unique set of conditions and structured by phases and tasks, a project snapshot business object that is a copy of the whole project at a certain point in time, a project simulation business object is used to find out about the effect of changes on an operational project, a project purchase request business object that is used to monitor procurement documents, and a project template business object that is used for standardizing a new project execution,

wherein the project processing process component further includes instructions for executing service operations including;

a change project based on purchase request confirmation service operation operable to send a confirmation to a requester of the extent to which a requisition has been fulfilled;

a change project based on purchase order service operation operable to notify the project about the creation of a purchase order for an external resource;

a change project based on employee time calendar service operation operable to send a confirmation of working time for a project task;

a check task availability for accounting service operation operable to notify of task availability;

a request service operation operable to request a buyer to procure external resources or services;

a notify of project service operation operable to inform accounting about a creation or change of project elements;

a request project cost estimate service operation operable to inform accounting about a creation or change of project elements that are costing relevant;

a request project cost estimate simulation service operation operable to request to perform a synchronous project costing simulation; and

a query project cost estimate operation service operable to query costing for the last costing result for project elements;

program code for implementing a costing process component including a material cost estimate business object that is a listing of the elements involved in the procurement or production of a material that incur costs, and a project cost estimate business object that is a listing of the elements of a project that incur costs;

program code for implementing an accounting process component used to record all relevant business transactions in financial accounting, the accounting process component including an overhead cost sheet business object that is a set of rules for the calculation of overhead charges, a time based accrual business object that is the specification for accrual methods, an overhead cost assessment rule business object that is used for the assessment of overhead cost to the proper originators, an accounting view on project business object that represents the project structure in financials, a general ledger account distribution run business object that is an automatic, periodically executed, rule based posting assistant, an overhead cost ledger account overhead cost calculation run business object that is an automatic calculation run to calculate and post the overhead costs at period end, an overhead cost assessment run business object that is an automatic, rule based calculation of collected amounts and quantities in overhead cost ledger accounts based on key figures or keys, an accounts receivable payable ledger account foreign currency re-measurement run business object that is an automatic period-end re-measurement of foreign currency amounts, a work in process clearing run business object that is an automatic clearing of work in process at period end, a sales ledger account business object that is a view of sales activities defined for financial accounting purposes, a production ledger account overhead cost calculation run business object that is an automatic calculation run to calculate and post the overhead costs at period end, a sales ledger account overhead cost calculation run business object that is an automatic calculation run to calculate and post the overhead costs at period end, a fixed asset depreciation run business object that is an automatic depreciation of asset values for a set of fixed assets, a balance carry forward run business object that is the automatic carry forward of year end balances for all general ledger accounts and fixed assets to the following fiscal year, an inventory price change run business object that is a change to the inventory price, an accounts receivable payable ledger account regrouping run business object that is an automatic transfer posting of valuated receivables and payables for a set of accounts receivable payable ledger accounts, an accounting document business object that represents a business transaction in financial accounting, a goods receipt invoice receipt clearing run business object that is an automatic calculation of price variances between the valuated goods received and the related invoice received at period end, an overhead cost distribution run business object that is an automatic, periodically executed, rule based posting assistant, a general ledger account assessment run business object that is an automatic, rule based calculation of collected amounts and quantities in general ledger accounts, an other direct cost ledger account business object that is a record of debit and credit entries belonging to a company that shows the effect of business transactions on costs as a result of a particular job or activity, an accounting notification business object that is an common input channel for all kinds of operational business transactions into financial accounting, a sales ledger account accruals run business object that is an automatic valuation of sales transactions for a set of sales ledger accounts at period end, the accounting adjustment run, an accounting adjustment run business object that is an automatic valuation of, or an automatic value changing process for a set of ledger accounts, an accounts receivable payable ledger account discounting run business object that is an automatic discounting of valuated payables and receivables, a cash ledger account foreign currency re-measurement run business object that is an automatic re-measurement of foreign currency amounts, a purchase ledger account business object that is a view of purchasing activities defined for financial accounting purposes, a cash ledger account business object that is a record of the valuated liquid assets of a company, a material ledger account business object that is a record of the quantities, values, and prices for materials in a company that are relevant to valuation, a chart of accounts business object that is used to chart account status, a general ledger account business object that is a view of the value of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses for financial accounting purposes, an overhead cost ledger account business object that is a record of the costs incurred by the provision of resources, a fixed asset business object that is a view of one or more objects, rights, or other items owned by the enterprise that are intended for long-term use, a tax ledger account business object that is a summary of tax liabilities defined for financial accounting purposes, and an accounts receivable payable ledger account business object that is a record of valuated payables and receivables of a company for a specific business partner,

wherein the accounting process component further includes instructions for executing service operations including ;

a create accounting entry service operation operable to receive an accounting document from another instance of accounting;

a maintain subledger account service operation operable to receive a project accounting notification from project processing;

a create accounting document service operation operable to receive an expense accounting notification from expense and reimbursement processing;

a cancel accounting document service operation operable to receive an expense accounting notification from expense and reimbursement processing; and

a simulate project cost estimate service operation operable to request performance of a synchronous project costing simulation and response; and

program code for implementing a financial accounting master data management process component used to enable a company to manage rules that are used by accounting and costing, the financial accounting master data management process component including a service product valuation data business object that represents internal prices for the valuation of business transactions related to a service product or a service product group and for cost estimation, a material valuation data business object that represents internal prices for the valuation of business transactions related to a material or a material group, for material inventory valuation and for cost estimation, a resource valuation data business object that represents attributes and internal cost rates for the valuation of business transactions related to a resource and for cost estimation, an overhead cost scheme business object that represents a set of rules for the calculation of overhead charges, a financial accounting view of project business object that represents a financial accounting project and its structure, an overhead cost assessment rule business object that specifies which costs are to be allocated, the receivers, and the assessment base to calculate the charges, a general ledger account balance distribution run business object that specifies which balances accrued on profit and loss or balance sheet accounts are to be distributed, and a time based accrual business object that represents an assignment of revenues or expenses relating to services provided over a period to the correct periods in terms of accepted accounting practice;

wherein each of the process components are deployable and executable on a computer system.