Inventory transaction common object

• US 8,510,179 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Kahlon, Paramjit, Catahan, Nardo B. Jr., Garg, Shailendra, Barnes-Leon, Maria Theresa, Sundararajan, Ramaswamy
• Primary Examiner(s): Danneman, Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/696,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20070214065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,577 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Stored inventory transaction information in a first format for use by a first computerized system is transformed to readily make the stored inventory transaction information available for use in a second computerized system that utilizes a second format in a cost-efficient and time-efficient manner.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

synchronizing inventory transaction information within a computerized inventory management system, wherein

the computerized inventory management system comprises

a plurality of computer systems, and

an integration server,

the computer systems are configured to communicate with the integration server via a network,

each of the computer systems is configured with at least one corresponding inventory system of a plurality of inventory systems,

the synchronizing is performed in response to a source inventory transaction,

the synchronizing is performed between any plurality of the plurality of inventory systems, and

the synchronizing comprises

extracting inventory transaction information in a source format, wherein

the inventory transaction information comprises source inventory transaction information,

the source format is associated with a source inventory system,

the source inventory system is one of the plurality of inventory systems, and

the source inventory transaction is executable by the source inventory system, at least in part, by virtue of the inventory transaction information in the source format being in the source format,

converting, at the integration server, the inventory transaction information in the source format into inventory transaction information in an intermediate format,

converting, at the integration server, the inventory transaction information in the intermediate format into inventory transaction information in a target format, wherein

the target format corresponds to a target inventory system, and

the target inventory system is another of the plurality of inventory systems,

pushing the inventory transaction information in the target format to the target inventory system, and

generating a target inventory transaction in the target inventory system, wherein

the generating the target inventory transaction comprises

 

determining whether the target inventory transaction is appropriate to the target inventory system, wherein the determining is based, at least in part, on

 

whether the target inventory transaction is executable by the target inventory system, and

 

whether executing the target inventory transaction on the target inventory system accomplishes a result on the target inventory system equivalent to a result on the source inventory system accomplished by executing the source inventory transaction on the source inventory system, and

if the target inventory transaction is executable by the target inventory system, the target inventory transaction is executable by the target inventory system, at least in part, by virtue of the inventory transaction information in the target format being in the target format.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the inventory transaction information in the target format to perform at least one computer-implemented act from a set of computer-implemented acts comprising;

creating a new inventory transaction record in the target inventory system; and

updating an existing inventory transaction record in the target inventory system.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting inventory transaction information in a second source format that is associated with a second source inventory system that is distinct from the source inventory system, wherein

the second source inventory system is another of the inventory systems;

converting the inventory transaction information in the second source format into inventory transaction information that is in the intermediate format;

converting the inventory transaction information in the intermediate format into inventory transaction information in the target format; and

using the inventory transaction information in the target format to perform at least one computer-implemented act from a set of computer-implemented acts comprising;

creating a new inventory transaction record in the target inventory system; and

updating an existing inventory transaction record in the target inventory system.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate format comprises a list of inventory transactions class with a hierarchy of data elements, wherein the hierarchy of data elements comprises a plurality of inventory transaction elements which comprise other elements.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of inventory transaction elements comprises:

an inventory transaction identifier;

a base data element for defining;

a transaction comments element;

a transaction date;

a transaction quantity of items;

a transaction time;

a transaction type code; and

a transaction unit of measure code;

a list of identifier data element for defining identifier data that is specific to a product or item;

a location data element for defining a destination location data element and a source location data element;

a related product element for defining a product or item identifier;

a related document data element for defining a related purchase order element; and

a custom data element for defining customized attributes for the inventory transaction information.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein:

the identifier data element comprises a product serial number or an item serial number;

the destination location data element comprises a destination bucket code element and a destination inventory location identifier element;

the source location data element comprises a source bucket code element and a source inventory location identifier; and

the related purchase order element comprises a purchase order element for defining purchase-order-type elements that comprise;

a common object row identifier element;

a purchase order base data element wherein the purchase order base data element comprises a purchase order number;

a list of purchase order line item element, wherein the list of purchase order line item element comprises a plurality of purchase order line items; and

a purchase order custom data element.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of purchase order line items comprises:

a purchase order line item number identifier element;

a purchase order line item base data element; and

a purchase order line item custom data element.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the purchase order line item base data element comprises a purchase order line item number.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for managing inventory, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform:

synchronizing inventory transaction information within a computerized inventory management system, wherein

the computerized inventory management system comprises

a plurality of computer systems, and

an integration server,

the computer systems are configured to communicate with the integration server via a network,

each of the computer systems is configured with at least one corresponding inventory system of a plurality of inventory systems,

the synchronizing is performed in response to a source inventory transaction,

the synchronizing is performed between any plurality of the plurality of inventory systems, and

the synchronizing comprises

extracting inventory transaction information in a source format,

wherein

the inventory transaction information comprises source inventory transaction information,

the source format is associated with a source inventory system,

the source inventory system is one of the plurality of inventory systems, and

the source inventory transaction is executable by the source inventory system, at least in part, by virtue of the inventory transaction information in the source format being in the source format,

converting, at the integration server, the inventory transaction information in the source format into inventory transaction information in an intermediate format,

converting, at the integration server, the inventory transaction information in the intermediate format into inventory transaction information in a target format, wherein

the target format corresponds to a target inventory system, and

the target inventory system is another of the plurality of inventory systems,

pushing the inventory transaction information in the target format to the target inventory system, and

generating a target inventory transaction in the target inventory system, wherein

the generating the target inventory transaction comprises

 

determining whether the target inventory transaction is appropriate to the target inventory system, wherein

 

the determining is based, at least in part, on

 

whether the target inventory transaction is executable by the target inventory system, and

 

whether executing the target inventory transaction on the target inventory system accomplishes a result on the target inventory system equivalent to a result on the source inventory system accomplished by executing the source inventory transaction on the source inventory system, and

if the target inventory transaction is executable by the target inventory system, the target inventory transaction is executable by the target inventory system, at least in Dart, by virtue of the inventory transaction information in the target format being in the target format.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

using the inventory transaction information in the target format to perform at least one computer-implemented act from a set of computer-implemented acts comprising;

creating a new inventory transaction record in the target inventory system; and

updating an existing inventory transaction record in the target inventory system.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

extracting inventory transaction information in a second source format that is associated with a second source inventory system that is distinct from the source inventory system, wherein

the second source inventory system is another of the inventory systems;

converting the inventory transaction information in the second source format into inventory transaction information that is in the intermediate format;

converting the inventory transaction information in the intermediate format into inventory transaction information in the target format; and

using the inventory transaction information in the target format to perform at least one computer-implemented act from a set of computer-implemented acts comprising;

creating a new inventory transaction record in the target inventory system; and

updating an existing inventory transaction record in the target inventory system.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the intermediate format comprises a list of inventory transactions class with a hierarchy of data elements.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the hierarchy of data elements comprises a plurality of inventory transaction elements which comprise other elements.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of inventory transaction elements comprises an inventory transaction identifier.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of inventory transaction elements comprises a base data element for defining:

a transaction comments element;

a transaction date;

a transaction quantity of items;

a transaction time;

a transaction type code; and

a transaction unit of measure code.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of inventory transaction elements comprises a list of identifier data element for defining identifier data that is specific to a product or item.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the identifier data element comprises a product serial number or an item serial number.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of inventory transaction elements comprises a location data element for defining a destination location data element and a source location data element.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the destination location data element comprises a destination bucket code element, which in turn comprises a destination inventory location identifier.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the source location data element comprises a source bucket code element, which in turn comprises a source inventory location identifier.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of inventory transaction elements comprises a related product element for defining a product or item identifier.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of inventory transaction elements comprises a related document data element for defining a related purchase order element.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the related purchase order element comprises a purchase order element for defining purchase order elements that comprise:

a common object row identifier element;

a purchase order base data type element;

a list of purchase order line item element; and

a purchase order custom data element.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the purchase order base data type element comprises a purchase order number.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the list of purchase order line item element comprises a plurality of purchase order line items.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of purchase order line items comprises:

a purchase order line item number identifier element;

a purchase order line item base data element; and

a purchase order line item custom data element.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the purchase order line item base data element comprises a purchase order line item number.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of inventory transaction elements comprises a custom data element for defining customized attributes for the inventory transaction information.

29. A computerized inventory management system, comprising:

an integration server comprising

a processor, and

a computer-readable storage medium,

the integration server is configured to communicate to a plurality of computer systems via a network,

each of the computer systems is configured with at least one corresponding inventory system of a plurality of inventory systems,

the computer-readable storage medium comprises

instructions, when executed by the processor, for synchronizing inventory transaction information within the computerized inventory management system, wherein

the instructions for synchronizing are configured to perform in response to a source inventory transaction, wherein

the synchronizing is performed between any plurality of the plurality of inventory systems, and

the instructions for synchronizing comprise

instructions, when executed by the processor, for extracting inventory information in a source format, wherein

 

the inventory transaction information comprises source inventory transaction information,

 

the source format is associated with a source inventory system,

 

the source inventory system is one of the plurality of inventory systems, and

 

the source inventory transaction is executable by the source inventory system, at least in part, by virtue of the inventory transaction information in the source format being in the source format,

instructions, when executed by the processor, for converting the inventory transaction information in the source format into inventory transaction information in intermediate format,

instructions, when executed by the processor, for converting the inventory transaction information in the intermediate format into inventory transaction information in a target format,

 

wherein

 

the target format corresponds to a target inventory system, and

 

the target inventory system is another of the plurality of inventory systems,

instructions, when executed by the processor, for pushing the inventory transaction information in the target format to the target inventory system, and

instructions, when executed by the processor, for generating a target inventory transaction in the target inventory system, wherein

 

the generating the target inventory transaction comprises

 

determining whether the target inventory transaction is appropriate to the target inventory system, wherein

 

the determining is based, at least in part, on

 

whether the target inventory transaction is executable by the target inventory system, and

 

whether executing the target inventory transaction on the target inventory system accomplishes a result on the target inventory system equivalent to a result on the source inventory system accomplished by executing the source inventory transaction on the source inventory system, and

 

if the target inventory transaction is executable by the target inventory system, the target inventory transaction is executable by the target inventory system, at least in part, by virtue of the inventory transaction information in the target format being in the target format.

30. The data structure of claim 29, wherein each of the plurality of inventory transaction elements comprises:

an inventory transaction identifier;

a base data element for defining;

a transaction comments element;

a transaction date;

a transaction quantity of items;

a transaction time;

a transaction type code; and

a transaction unit of measure code;

a list of identifier data element for defining identifier data that is specific to a product or item;

a location data element for defining a destination location data element and a source location data element;

a related product element for defining a product or item identifier;

a related document data element for defining a related purchase order element; and

a custom data element for defining customized attributes for the inventory transaction information.

31. The data structure of claim 30, wherein:

the identifier data element comprises a product serial number or an item serial number;

the destination location data element comprises a destination bucket code element and a destination inventory location identifier element;

the source location data element comprises a source bucket code element and a source inventory location identifier; and

the related purchase order element comprises a purchase order element for defining purchase-order-type elements that comprise;

a common object row identifier element;

a purchase order base data element wherein the purchase order base data element comprises a purchase order number;

a list of purchase order line item element, wherein the list of purchase order line item element comprises a plurality of purchase order line items; and

a purchase order custom data element.

32. The data structure of claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of purchase order line items comprises:

a purchase order line item number identifier element;

a purchase order line item base data element; and

a purchase order line item custom data element.

33. The data structure of claim 32, wherein the purchase order line item base data element comprises a purchase order line item number.