Architectural design for service procurement application software

• US 8,447,657 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Jungkind, Christoph, Rummler, Zeno, Krisch, Dieter, Duparc, Jacques, Fitz, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): ADE, OGER GARCIA
• Application Number:
  US11/967,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20090172699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing service procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Project Processing process component; a Purchase Request Processing process component; a Purchase Order Processing process component; a Purchasing Contract process component; a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component; an RFQ Processing process component; and a Time and Labor Management process component.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer program product comprising instructions encoded on a non-transitory, computer-readable medium, the instructions being structured as process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, the instructions operable when executed by at least one processor to:

define a plurality of process components, each of the process components comprising a modular and application-independent package of reusable, granular software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the business process comprising functionality exposed by the process component via a corresponding service interface, the plurality of process components including;

a project processing process component that supports planning and execution of projects;

a purchase request processing process component that supports processing of purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

a purchase order processing process component that supports creation and maintenance of purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a purchasing contract processing process component that supports creation and maintenance of purchasing contracts;

a goods and service acknowledgement process component that supports confirmation by an employee of goods received or services rendered;

an request for quote (RFQ) processing process component that supports processing of requests for quotes and supplier quotes; and

a time and labor management process component that supports management of employees timekeeping and work planning; and

define a plurality of service interfaces, each service interface associated with exactly one process component and comprising at least one operation, each operation being implemented for exactly one process component, the operations comprising inbound and outbound operations, the outbound operation for a first process component being operable to send a message to a second process component of the plurality of process components, the second process component having an inbound operation for receiving the message, the sending and receiving of messages between an inbound and an outbound operation defining a message-based pair-wise interaction between the respective process components of the respective operations, the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components including interactions between;

the purchase request processing process component and the project processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase request processing process component and the project processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase request notification message from the purchase request processing process component to the project processing process component, the purchase request notification message comprising a notification to the project processing process component regarding purchase requests having project accounting information;

the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ Processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ Processing process component includes the transmission of;

an RFQ execution request message from the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ Processing process component, the RFQ execution request message comprising a request to create an RFQ request from business documents associated with a bidding or negotiation process; and

an RFQ execution confirmation message from the RFQ processing process component to the purchase request processing process component, the RFQ execution confirmation message comprising a confirmation message of execution of an RFQ in response to the RFQ execution request message;

the time and labor management process component and the project processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the time and labor management process component and the project processing process component includes the transmission of;

a project task confirmation notification message from the time and labor management process component to the project processing process component, the project task confirmation notification message comprising a notification indicating when an active employee time item with project relevant information is created, changed or cancelled;

the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase request request message from the project processing process component to the purchase request processing process component, the purchase request request message comprising a request for procurement of goods and/or services to the purchase request processing process component; and

a purchase request confirmation message from the purchase request processing process component to the project processing process component, the purchase request confirmation message comprising a confirmation from purchasing about the degree to which a prior purchase request is fulfilled;

the purchase order processing process component and the project processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the project processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase order notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the project processing process component, the purchase order notification message comprising a notification of a creation, change, or cancellation of a purchase order;

the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component includes the transmission of;

a supplier quote award notification message from the RFQ processing process component to the purchase order processing process component, the supplier quote award notification message comprising a notification and request for a purchase order based on the awarded respective winning supplier quote;

the project processing process component and the time and labor management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the time and labor management process component includes the transmission of;

an employee time confirmation view of project notification message from the project processing process component to the time and labor management process component, the employee time confirmation view of project notification message comprising a notification message providing information about tasks and assigned employees in a particular project;

the time and labor management process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the time and labor management process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component includes the transmission of;

a goods and service acknowledgement request message from the time and labor management process component to the goods and service acknowledgement process component, the goods and service acknowledgment request message comprising a notification sent when an active employee time with goods and service acknowledgement relevant information is created, changed or cancelled; and

a goods and service acknowledgement cancellation request message from the time and labor management process component to the goods and service acknowledgement process component, where the goods and service acknowledgement cancellation request message comprises a notification sent when an active employee time with goods and service acknowledgement relevant information is cancelled; and

the purchase order processing process component and the time and labor management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the time and labor management process component includes the transmission of;

an employee time confirmation view of service transaction document notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the time and labor management process component, the employee time confirmation view confirmation view of service transaction document notification message comprising a notification about a created, changed or cancelled purchase order to the time and labor management process component.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

a source of supply and determination process component that handles the maintenance of and access to sources of supply and quota arrangements for external and internal procurement processes;

a due item processing process component that handles the collection, management, and monitoring of trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a balance of foreign payment management process component that handles the collection, processing, and reporting of receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by central banks to create the balance of payments of a country;

a pricing engine process component that handles the processing of price and tax calculations;

an accounting coding block distribution processing process component that handles the registration and checking of all accounting objects that can be assigned in a source document for a business transaction, such as cost center or project, as well as the dispatching of a check request;

a payment processing process component that handles the processing and management of all payments as well as associated communications with financial institutions and provides input for liquidity management;

an accounting process component that handles the representation of all relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a supplier invoice processing process component that handles the management and volume processing of supplier invoices, including exception handling and approval;

an internal request processing process component that handles the management and processing of internal requests from employees; and

wherein;

the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components further include interactions between;

a bank statement creation at bank process component and the payment processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the internal request processing process component and the purchase request processing process component;

the due item processing process component and the payment processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component;

a customer invoice processing at supplier process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the due item processing process component and the accounting process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component;

the purchasing contract processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the payment processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the RFQ processing process component and an opportunity/customer quote processing at supplier process component;

the accounting coding block distribution processing process component and the project processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the customer invoice processing at supplier process component;

the pricing engine process component and an external tax calculation process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice verification exception resolution process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the purchasing contract processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the internal request processing process component;

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the bill of exchange payable; and

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the outgoing check.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of process components is associated with exactly one deployment unit among a plurality of deployment units, and each deployment unit is deployable on a separate computer hardware platform independent of every other deployment unit; and

all interaction between a process component in one deployment unit and any other process component in any other deployment unit takes place through the respective service interfaces of the two process components.

4. The product of claim 3, wherein the deployment units comprise:

a financial accounting deployment unit that includes the accounting process component;

a project management deployment unit that includes the project processing process component;

a purchasing deployment unit that includes the purchase request processing process component, the purchase order processing process component, the purchasing contract process component, and the goods and service acknowledgement process component;

a supplier invoicing deployment unit that includes the supplier invoice processing process component;

a payment deployment unit that includes the payment process component;

a strategic sourcing processing deployment unit that includes the RFQ processing process component;

a due item management deployment unit that includes the due item processing process component, and the balance of foreign payment management processing component;

a requisitioning deployment unit that includes the internal request processing process component; and

a human capital management deployment unit that includes the time and labor management process component.

5. The product of claim 1, wherein:

each of the process components includes one or more business objects; and

none of the business objects of any one of the process components interacts directly with any of the business objects included in any of the other process components.

6. The product of claim 5, wherein the business objects comprise a business process object.

7. The product of claim 5, wherein none of the business objects included in any one of the process components is included in any of the other process components.

8. The product of claim 1, at least a subset of the process components including at least one process agent, each process agent being either an inbound process agent or an outbound process agent, each inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from a corresponding inbound operation, each outbound process agent being operable to cause a corresponding outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

9. The product of claim 8, wherein each inbound process agent comprises a first inbound process agent operable to start execution of a business process step requested in a first inbound message by creating or updating at least one business object instance.

10. The product of claim 8, wherein the outbound process agents comprise a first asynchronous outbound process agent that is called after a business object that is associated with the first outbound process agent changes.

11. The product of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise synchronous and asynchronous operations.

12. A system comprising:

a computer system comprising at least one hardware platform for executing computer instructions, the computer instructions structured as a plurality of process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, each hardware platform including at least one processor for executing the computer instructions;

memory storing a plurality of process components executable by the respective at least one processor of the particular hardware platform, each of the process components comprising a modular and application-independent package of reusable, granular software implementing a respective and distinct business process, the business process comprising functionality exposed by the process component via at least one service interface, the plurality of process components including;

a project processing process component that supports planning and execution of projects;

a purchase request processing process component that supports processing of purchase requests to locate appropriate external sources of supply;

a purchase order processing process component that supports creation and maintenance of purchase orders and purchase order confirmations;

a purchasing contract processing process component that supports creation and maintenance of purchasing contracts;

a goods and service acknowledgement process component that supports confirmation by an employee of goods received or services rendered;

an RFQ processing process component that supports processing of requests for quotes and supplier quotes; and

a time and labor management process component that supports management of employees timekeeping and work planning; and

the memory further storing a plurality of service interfaces, each service interface associated with exactly one process component and comprising at least one operation, each being implemented for exactly one process component, the operations comprising inbound and outbound operations, the outbound operation for a first process component being operable to send a message to a second process component of the plurality of process components, the second process component having an inbound operation for receiving the message, the sending and receiving of messages between an inbound and an outbound operation defining a message-based, pair-wise interaction between the respective process components of the respective operations, the pair

the purchase request processing process component and the project processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase request processing process component and the project processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase request notification message from the purchase request processing process component to the project processing process component, the purchase request notification message comprising a notification to the project processing process component regarding purchase requests having project accounting information;

the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ Processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ Processing process component includes the transmission of;

an RFQ execution request message from the purchase request processing process component and the RFQ Processing process component, the RFQ execution request message comprising a request to create an RFQ request from business documents associated with a bidding or negotiation process; and

an RFQ execution confirmation message from the RFQ processing process component to the purchase request processing process component, the RFQ execution confirmation message comprising a confirmation message of execution of an RFQ in response to the RFQ execution request message;

the time and labor management process component and the project processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the time and labor management process component and the project processing process component includes the transmission of;

a project task confirmation notification message from the time and labor management process component to the project processing process component, the project task confirmation notification message comprising a notification indicating when an active employee time item with project relevant information is created, changed or cancelled;

the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the purchase request processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase request request message from the project processing process component to the purchase request processing process component, the purchase request request message comprising a request for procurement of goods and/or services to the purchase request processing process component; and

a purchase request confirmation message from the purchase request processing process component to the project processing process component, the purchase request confirmation message comprising a confirmation from purchasing about the degree to which a prior purchase request is fulfilled;

the purchase order processing process component and the project processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the project processing process component includes the transmission of;

a purchase order notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the project processing process component, the purchase order notification message comprising a notification of a creation, change, or cancellation of a purchase order;

the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the RFQ processing process component and the purchase order processing process component includes the transmission of;

a supplier quote award notification message from the RFQ processing process component to the purchase order processing process component, the supplier quote award notification message comprising a notification and request for a purchase order based on the awarded respective winning supplier quote;

the project processing process component and the time and labor management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the project processing process component and the time and labor management process component includes the transmission of;

an employee time confirmation view of project notification message from the project processing process component to the time and labor management process component, the employee time confirmation view of project notification message comprising a notification message providing information about tasks and assigned employees in a particular project;

the time and labor management process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the time and labor management process component and the goods and service acknowledgement process component includes the transmission of;

a goods and service acknowledgement request message from the time and labor management process component to the goods and service acknowledgement process component, the goods and service acknowledgment request message comprising a notification sent when an active employee time with goods and service acknowledgement relevant information is created, changed or cancelled; and

a goods and service acknowledgement cancellation request message from the time and labor management process component to the goods and service acknowledgement process component, where the goods and service acknowledgement cancellation request message comprises a notification sent when an active employee time with goods and service acknowledgement relevant information is cancelled; and

the purchase order processing process component and the time and labor management process component, where the pair-wise interaction between the purchase order processing process component and the time and labor management process component includes the transmission of;

an employee time confirmation view of service transaction document notification message from the purchase order processing process component to the time and labor management process component, the employee time confirmation view confirmation view of service transaction document notification message comprising a notification about a created, changed or cancelled purchase order to the time and labor management process component.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of process components further includes;

a source of supply and determination process component that handles the maintenance of and access to sources of supply and quota arrangements for external and internal procurement processes;

a due item processing process component that handles the collection, management, and monitoring of trade receivables or payables and corresponding sales tax or withholding tax;

a balance of foreign payment management process component that handles the collection, processing, and reporting of receivables and payables according to foreign trade regulations that are required by central banks to create the balance of payments of a country;

a pricing engine process component that handles the processing of price and tax calculations;

an accounting coding block distribution processing process component that handles the registration and checking of all accounting objects that can be assigned in a source document for a business transaction, such as cost center or project, as well as the dispatching of a check request;

a payment processing process component that handles the processing and management of all payments as well as associated communications with financial institutions and provides input for liquidity management;

an accounting process component that handles the representation of all relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis;

a supplier invoice processing process component that handles the management and volume processing of supplier invoices, including exception handling and approval;

an internal request processing process component that handles the management and processing of internal requests from employees; and

wherein

the pair-wise interactions between pairs of the process components further include interactions between;

a bank statement creation at bank process component and the payment processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the due item processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment processing at business partner process component;

the internal request processing process component and the purchase request processing process component;

the due item processing process component and the payment processing process component;

the payment processing process component and a payment order processing at house bank process component;

a customer invoice processing at supplier process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the due item processing process component and the accounting process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the accounting process component;

the purchasing contract processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the goods and service acknowledgement process component and the supplier invoice processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the accounting process component;

the payment processing process component and the accounting process component;

the purchase order processing process component and a sales order processing at supplier process component;

the RFQ processing process component and an opportunity/customer quote processing at supplier process component;

the accounting coding block distribution processing process component and the project processing process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the customer invoice processing at supplier process component;

the pricing engine process component and an external tax calculation process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and a supplier invoice verification exception resolution process component;

the supplier invoice processing process component and the purchasing contract processing process component;

the purchase order processing process component and the internal request processing process component;

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the bill of exchange payable; and

the payment processing process component and the payment processing at business partner process component related to the outgoing check.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein:

each of the process components includes one or more business objects; and

none of the business objects of any one of the process components interacts directly with any of the business objects included in any of the other process components.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein none of the business objects included in any one of the process components is included in any of the other process components.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein at least a subset of the process components includes at least one process agent, each process agent being either an inbound process agent or an outbound process agent, each inbound process agent being operable to receive a message from a corresponding inbound operation, each outbound process agent being operable to cause a corresponding outbound operation to send a message, each process agent being associated with exactly one process component.

17. The system of claim 12, the system comprising multiple hardware platforms, wherein:

the project processing process component is deployed on a first hardware platform;

the purchase request processing process component, the purchase order processing process component, the purchasing contract processing process component, and the goods and service acknowledgement process component are deployed on a second hardware platform;

the supplier invoice processing process component is deployed on a third hardware platform;

the RFQ processing process component is deployed on a fourth hardware platform;

the time and labor management process component is deployed on a fifth hardware platform;

the internal request processing process component is deployed on a sixth hardware platform;

the due item processing process component and the balance of foreign payment management process component are deployed on a seventh hardware platform;

the accounting process component is deployed on an eighth hardware platform; and

the payment processing process component is deployed on an ninth hardware platform.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first through the ninth hardware platforms are distinct and separate from each other.