Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model

• US 8,566,193 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Singh, Abhinava Pratap, Esau, Andreas, Huber-Buschbeck, Andreas, Seibel, Andreas, Langendoerfer, Bleickard, Hissler, Christian, Leinenkugel, Cornel, Rajamohan, Devasena, Egen, Gerd, Wellenhofer, Gerold, Arlt, Gregor, Thienel, Hans-Peter, Theissen, Heiko, Wolle, Jens-Martin, Poulin, Jerome, Hambrecht, Kerstin, Koujalagi, Madhavi, Masoumeh, Moghaddam, Wagenknecht, Ralf, Ulasenka, Siarhei, Doenig, Susanne, Lindemann, Thiemo, Schneider, Thomas, Herbst, Udo, Oehler, Uwe, Waltemathe, Rolf, Pluder, Carsten, Panwar, Harsh, Schick, Eberhard, Reisert, Corinne, Hollberg, Juergen, Wadewitz, Peter, V, Shankar, Rausse, Christof, Doppenschmidt, Astrid, Yengoti, Chandramohan Reddy, Zumbach, Klaus, Vonderheid, Oliver, Boehm, Stefan Christian, Rebholz, Svetlana
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trotter, Scott S
• Application Number:
  US11/640,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,503 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/7.12, 705/340
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 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 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing production bills of material, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message inquires for a production bill of material and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production bill of material variant basic data by material and plant query message entity; and

a selection package comprising a production bill of material variant basic data selection by material and plant entity;

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message comprises a production bill of material and includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production bill of materials variant basic data by material and plant response message entity; and

a production bill of material variant basic data package comprising at least one production bill of material entity, where each production bill of material entity includes an internal ID and at least one variant, and where each variant includes a material internal ID, a usage code, and a material description;

generating a third message by the first application, wherein the third message inquires for items of a variant for the particular production bill of material and includes a third message package structured by the first message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production bill of material variant item basic data by variant identifying elements query message entity; and

a selection package comprising a production bill of material variant item basic data selection by variant identifying elements entity, where the production bill of material variant item basic data selection by variant identifying elements entity includes a material internal ID, a plant ID, and a production bill of material variant usage code; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a fourth message received from the second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the third message according to the hierarchical organization of the third message package via the second message-based interface, where processing the third message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the third message package based on the common business object model, and, wherein the fourth message comprises a production bill of material and includes a fourth message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production bill of material variant item basic data by variant identifying elements response message entity; and

a production bill of material package comprising a production bill of material entity, where the production bill of material entity includes an internal ID and a variant, further where the variant includes an ID, a material internal ID, a validity date, a usage code, a material description, and a usage name.

2. A computer-implemented method for managing supply planning areas, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message inquires for a list of supply planning areas and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a supply planning area by location ID and location type code query message entity; and

a selection package comprising a supply planning area selection by location ID and location type code entity, the supply planning area selection by location ID and location type code entity including at least one of a selection by location internal ID or a selection by location type code; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a supply planning area by location ID and location type code response message entity; and

a supply planning area package comprising at least one supply planning area entity, where each supply planning area entity includes an ID and a location, further where the location includes an internal ID and a type code.

3. A computer-implemented method for exchanging data about available products between vendors and retailers, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message requests a subscription for the first application to a recipient data pool and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a trade item catalogue subscription request message entity; and

a trade item catalogue package comprising at least one trade item catalogue entity and a party package, where each trade item catalogue entity includes an action code, a creation date time, and a catalogue ID, and further where the party package includes a recipient party and a source party; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized as;

a trade item catalogue subscription confirmation message entity; and

a trade item catalogue package comprising at least one trade item catalogue entity and a party package, where each trade item catalogue entity includes an action code, a creation date time, and a catalogue ID, and further where the party package includes a recipient party and a source party.

4. A computer-implemented method for planning the transportation of a certain quantity of a product from the stock of a source location, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message requests creation of a stock transport planning order and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a stock transport planning order create request message entity; and

a stock transport planning order package comprising a stock transport planning order entity and a stock transport planning order item package, where the stock transport planning order entity includes a planning version ID, where the stock transport planning order item package includes a stock transport planning order item entity, and where the stock transport planning order item entity includes a stock transport planning order item schedule line package, product internal ID, a target location internal ID, a source location internal ID, and a transport means description code;

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message comprises a confirmation and includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a stock transport planning order create confirmation message; and

a log package comprising a log entity;

generating a third message by the first application, wherein the third message requests a stock transport planning order by ID and includes a third message package structured by the first message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a stock transport planning order by ID query message entity; and

a selection package comprising a stock transport planning order selection by ID entity, where the stock transport planning order selection by ID entity includes a stock transport planning order ID;

processing, via the first message-based interface, a fourth message received from the second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the third message according to the hierarchical organization of the third message package via the second message-based interface, where processing the third message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the third message package based on the common business object model, and wherein the fourth message comprises a response to the stock transport planning order by ID request and includes a fourth message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a stock transport planning order by ID response message entity; and

a stock transport planning order package;

determining that the particular transport planning order is one of changed or cancelled; and

if the particular stock transport planning order is changed;

generating a fifth message by the first application, wherein the fifth message requests that the particular stock transport planning order be changed and includes a fifth message package structured by the first message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a stock transport planning order change request message entity; and

a stock transport planning order package comprising a stock transport planning order entity and a stock transport planning order item package, where the stock transport planning order entity includes an ID and where the stock transport planning order item package includes a stock transport planning order item schedule line package; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a sixth message received from the second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the fifth message according to the hierarchical organization of the fifth message package via the second message-based interface, where processing the fifth message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the fifth message package based on the common business object model, and wherein the sixth message confirms the change and includes a sixth message package hierarchically organized in memory as;

a stock transport planning order change confirmation message entity; and

a stock transport planning order package and a log package, where the log package includes a log entity;

and if the particular stock transport planning order is cancelled;

generating a fifth message by the first application, wherein the fifth message requests that the particular stock transport planning order be cancelled and includes a fifth message package structured by the first message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a stock transport planning order cancel request message entity; and

a stock transport planning order package comprising a stock transport planning order entity, where the stock transport planning order includes an ID; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a sixth message received from the second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the fifth message according to the hierarchical organization of the fifth message package via the second message-based interface, where processing the fifth message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the fifth message package based on the common business object model, and wherein the sixth message confirms the cancellation and includes a sixth message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a stock transport planning order cancel confirmation message entity; and

a log package comprising a log entity.

5. A computer-implemented method for managing customer returns, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message requests creation of a customer return object and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a customer return create request message entity; and

a customer return package comprising a customer return entity, a party package, and a sales terms package, where the customer return entity includes a processing type code, where the party package includes a buyer party entity and a sales organization party entity, and where the sales terms package includes a sales terms entity; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message confirms the creation and includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a customer return create confirmation message entity; and

a log package comprising a log entity.

6. A computer-implemented method for managing procurement planning orders, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message requests creation of a procurement planning order object and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a procurement planning order create request message entity; and

a procurement planning order comprising a procurement planning order entity and a procurement planning order item package, where the procurement planning order entity includes a planning version ID, and where the procurement planning order item package includes a procurement planning order item entity and a procurement planning order item schedule line, where the procurement planning order item entity includes a product internal ID and a location internal ID, where the procurement planning order item schedule line package includes a procurement planning order item schedule line entity, and where the procurement planning order item schedule line entity includes a quantity, a fixed indicator, and an availability date time;

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message confirms the creation and includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a procurement planning order create confirmation message entity; and

a log package comprising a log entity;

determining that the particular procurement planning order is changed; and

generating a third message by the first application, wherein the third message requests that the particular procurement planning order object be changed and includes a third message package structured by the first message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a procurement planning order change request message entity; and

a procurement planning order package comprising a procurement planning order entity and a procurement planning order item package, where the procurement planning order entity includes an ID, where the procurement planning order item package includes a procurement planning order item entity and a procurement planning order item schedule line package, and where the procurement planning order item schedule line package includes a procurement planning order item schedule line entity; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a fourth message received from the second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the third message according to the hierarchical organization of the third message package via the second message-based interface, where processing the third message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the third message package based on the common business object model, and wherein the fourth message confirms the change and includes a fourth message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a procurement planning order change confirmation message entity; and

a log package comprising a log entity.

7. A computer-implemented method for identifying a production order based on incomplete information, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message requests a production order and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production order simple by elements query message entity; and

a production order simple selection by elements package comprising a production order simple selection by elements entity, where the production order simple selection by elements entity includes an ERP production order required indicator, an ERP process order required indicator, and at least one of the following;

a selection by plant ID, a selection by supply planning area ID, a selection by material ID, a selection by material requirements planning controller ID, a selection by production scheduler ID, a selection by sales order ID, a selection by project work breakdown structure element, and a selection by production order type code; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production order simple by elements response message entity; and

a log package comprising a log entity.

8. A computer-implemented method for managing production proposals, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message requests creation of a production proposal object and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production proposal create request message entity; and

a production proposal package comprising a production proposal entity, where the production proposal entity includes a planning version ID, a location internal ID, a product internal ID, a quantity ID, an availability date time, a source of supply reference, and a fixed indicator; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message confirms the creation and includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production proposal create confirmation message entity; and

a log package comprising a log entity.

9. A computer-implemented method for managing production planning orders for Supply Chain Management (SCM), the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message requests creation of a production planning order object and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production planning order create request message entity; and

a production planning order package comprising a production planning order entity and a component package, where the production planning order entity includes a planning version ID and a supply planning area ID, and where the component package includes at least one material output entity, where each material output entity includes a product internal ID, a supply planning area ID, an availability date time, and a planned quantity;

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message confirms the creation and includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production planning order create confirmation message entity; and

a log package comprising a log entity;

determining that the particular procurement planning order is changed;

generating a third message by the first application, wherein the third message requests that the particular procurement planning order object be changed and includes a third message package structured by the first message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production planning order change request message entity; and

a production planning order package comprising a production planning order entity and a component package, where the production planning order entity includes an ID, and where the component package includes at least one material output entity, where each material output entity includes a product internal ID, an availability date time, a planned quantity, a priority value, and a fixed indicator; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a fourth message from the second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the third message according to the hierarchical organization of the third message package via the second message-based interface, where processing the third message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the third message package based on the common business object model, and wherein the fourth message confirms the change and includes a fourth message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production planning order change confirmation message entity; and

a log package comprising a log entity.

10. A computer-implemented method for managing equipment resources, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message requests creation of an equipment resource object and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

an equipment resource create request message entity; and

an equipment resource package, a description package, a capacity package, and a reference package, the equipment resource package comprising an equipment resource entity, the description package comprising a description entity, the capacity package comprising a downtime entity and a capacity and scheduling information entity, and the reference package comprising a location entity;

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message confirms the creation and includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

an equipment resource create confirmation message entity; and

an equipment resource package and a log package, the equipment resource package comprising an equipment resource entity and the log package comprising a log entity; and

determining that the particular equipment resource is one of changed or deactivated; and

if the particular equipment resource is changed;

generating a third message by the first application, wherein the third message requests that the particular equipment resource object be changed and includes a third message package structured by the first message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

an equipment resource change request message entity; and

an equipment resource package comprising an equipment resource entity, where the equipment resource entity includes an ID, a description package, a downtime package, and a capacity and scheduling information package; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a fourth message received from the second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the third message according to the hierarchical organization of the third message package via the second message-based interface, where processing the third message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the third message package based on the common business object model, and wherein the fourth message confirms the change and includes a fourth message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

an equipment resource change confirmation message entity; and

an equipment resource package and a log package, the equipment resource package comprising an equipment resource entity and the log package comprising a log entity; and

if the particular equipment resource is deactivated;

generating a third message by the first application, wherein the third message requests that the particular equipment resource object be deactivated and includes a third message package structured by the first message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

an equipment resource deactivate request message entity; and

an equipment resource package comprising an equipment resource entity, where the equipment resource entity includes an ID; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a fourth message received from the second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the third message according to the hierarchical organization of the third message package via the second message-based interface, where processing the third message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the third message package based on the common business object model, and wherein the fourth message confirms the deactivation of the particular equipment resource object and includes a fourth message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

an equipment resource deactivate confirmation message entity; and

an equipment resource package and a log package, the equipment resource package comprising an equipment resource entity and the log package comprising a log entity.

11. A computer-implemented method for processing productivity, the method steps performed by a processor and comprising:

generating a first message by a first application, the first application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services via message-based interfaces, wherein the first message requests creation of a productivity confirmation object and includes a first message package structured by a first message-based interface associated with the first application, the first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, and where the first message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production confirmation create request message entity; and

a production confirmation package comprising a production confirmation entity and a good movement package, where the production confirmation entity includes a record type code; and

processing, via the first message-based interface, a second message received from a heterogeneous second application in response to the second application'"'"'s processing of the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package via a second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, where processing the first message by the second message-based interface includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model, the second application executing in the environment of computer systems providing message-based services, wherein the second message confirms the creation and includes a second message package structured by the second message-based interface derived from the common business object model, and where the second message package is hierarchically organized in memory as;

a production confirmation create confirmation message entity; and

a log package comprising a log entity.