Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model

• US 8,655,756 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Seubert, Michael, Rasch, Jochen, Kuehl, Axel, Alvarez, Gabriel, Biehler, Markus, Bold, Andreas, Brossler, Andreas, Buchmann, Daniel, Colle, Renzo, Elfner, Stefan, Gnan, Werner, Grossmann, Toralf, Gschwender, Gerhard, Hendricks, Joerg, Hengevoss, Wolf, Hofmann, Christine, Jaeck, Volker, Kelnberger, Bernhard, Kemmer, Johann, Kenntner, Joachim, Koetter, Karsten, Kraehmer, Thilo, Kuster, Corinne, Lehner, Christoph, Maag, Thomas, Makris, Otto, Morsch, Andreas, Nieswand, Wolfgang, Nitschke, Thomas, Peter, Markus, Podhajsky, Georg, Poetschke, Dominic, Pyka, Uwe, Radcke, Ruediger, Rieken, Gregor, Ritter, Gerd, Sala, Paola, Schapler, Daniela, Schmitt, Matthias, Schneider, Andreas, Schueler, Arnulf, Schultze, Dagmar, Sievers, Ralf, Stuhec, Gunther, Thome, Frank, Wagner, Andre, Winkel, Rudolf, Yu, Tao, Zachmann, Jens, Zimmerman, Theo, Zoeller, Michael, Gross, Antonia, Hetzer, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aziz, Abdulmajeed
• Application Number:
  US11/145,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,182 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a data processing system having a business object model reflecting the data used during a business transaction. Consistent interfaces are generated from the business object model. These interfaces are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction.

Claims

1. A tangible computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for exchanging invoices between an invoicing party and an invoice recipient, the medium comprising:

program code for receiving via a 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, the message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for providing a notification of claims or liabilities for delivered goods and rendered services that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

an invoice message entity; and

an invoice package comprising an invoice entity, a party package, a price information package, and an item package, where the invoice entity includes an invoice entity ID, an invoice entity type code, and a date time, where the party package includes a bill-to-party entity and a bill-from-party entity, where the price information package includes a price entity, where the price entity further includes a gross amount and a net amount, and where the item package includes at least one item entity, where each item entity further includes an item entity ID and an item entity type code;

program code for processing the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and

program code for sending a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the invoice package further comprises at least one of the following:

a location package, a tax package, an attachment package, and a description package.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the invoice entity further includes at least one of the following:

a bill-to ID and a note.

4. A tangible computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for exchanging purchase requisitions for products between a requester and a buyer, the medium comprising:

program code for receiving via a 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, the message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for requesting the buyer to procure products externally that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a purchase requirement message entity; and

a purchase requirement package comprising a purchase requirement entity and an item package, where the purchase requirement entity includes a purchase requirement entity ID and a creation date time, and where the item package includes at least one item entity and a schedule line package for each item entity, and further where each item entity includes an item entity ID and each schedule line package includes a schedule line entity;

program code for processing the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and

program code for sending a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 4, wherein the purchase requirement package further comprises at least one of the following:

a party package and a location package.

6. A tangible computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for performing a source of supply notification, the medium comprising:

program code for receiving via a 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, the message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for notifying a supply planner about the available sources of supplies that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a source of supply message entity; and

a source of supply package comprising a source of supply entity, where the source of supply entity includes an active indicator, a deleted indicator, and a validity period;

program code for processing the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and

program code for sending a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the source of supply package further comprises at least one of the following:

a business transaction document reference package, a party package, a location package, a product information package, and a price information package.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the source of supply entity further includes at least one of the following:

a sourcing priority code, a target quantity, a target amount, a goods receipt processing duration, and a planned delivery duration.

9. A tangible computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for exchanging purchase orders between a buyer and a seller, the medium comprising:

program code for receiving via a 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, the message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for requesting the delivery of goods or provision of services that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a purchase order message entity; and

a purchase order package comprising a purchase order entity, where the purchase order entity includes a purchase order entity ID;

program code for processing the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and

program code for sending a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the purchase order package further comprises at least one of the following:

a party package, a location package, a delivery information package, a payment information package, an attachment package, a description package, a follow up message package, and an item package.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the purchase order entity further includes at least one of the following:

a seller ID, a buyer posting date time, a note, and an item list complete transmission indicator.

12. A tangible computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for exchanging purchase orders between a buyer and a seller, the medium comprising:

program code for receiving via a 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, the message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for requesting cancellation of a request for the delivery of goods or provision of services that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a purchase order cancellation message entity; and

a purchase order cancellation package comprising a purchase order cancellation entity, where the purchase order cancellation entity includes a purchase order cancellation entity ID;

program code for processing the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and

program code for sending a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.

13. A tangible computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for acknowledging services entered by a seller, the medium comprising:

program code for receiving via a 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, the message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for requesting an acknowledgement that at least one service has been entered that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

a service acknowledgement message entity; and

a service acknowledgement package comprising a service acknowledgement entity, where the service acknowledgement entity includes a service acknowledgement entity ID;

program code for processing the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and

program code for sending a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the service acknowledgement package further comprises at least one of the following:

a party package, a location package, an attachment package, a description package, and an item package.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the service acknowledgement entity further includes at least one of the following:

a buyer ID, a creation date time, an acceptance status code, and a note.

16. A tangible computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for exchanging request for quotations (RFQs) and quotations between a buyer and a bidder, the medium comprising:

program code for receiving via a 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, the message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for requesting participation in an RFQ process for a product or service that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

an RFQ message entity; and

an RFQ package comprising an RFQ entity, where the RFQ entity includes an RFQ entity ID, a quote submission date time, an RFQ public indicator, a quote price bidding condition code, a quote quantity bidding condition code, and a quote item bidding condition code;

program code for processing the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and

program code for sending a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the RFQ package further comprises at least one of the following:

a party package, a location package, a delivery information package, a payment information package, a product information package, a business transaction document reference package, a follow up business transaction document package, an attachment package, a description package, and an item package.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the RFQ entity further includes at least one of the following:

a posting date time, a publish date time, a display date time, a bidding start date time, a quote opening date, a quote binding date time, a contract validity period, a note, a quote unplanned item permission code, and a contract target amount.

19. A tangible computer readable medium including program code for providing a message-based interface for exchanging request for quotations (RFQs) and quotations between a buyer and a bidder, the medium comprising:

program code for receiving via a 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, the message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for requesting cancellation of a request for participation in an RFQ process for a product or service that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as;

an RFQ cancellation message entity; and

an RFQ cancellation package comprising an RFQ cancellation entity, where the RFQ cancellation entity includes an RFQ cancellation entity ID;

program code for processing the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and

program code for sending a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.

20. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for providing a notification of claims or liabilities for delivered goods and rendered services using a request;

a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as;

an invoice message entity; and

an invoice package comprising an invoice entity, a party package, a price information package, and an item package, where the invoice entity includes an invoice entity ID, an invoice entity type code, and a date time, where the party package includes a bill-to-party entity and a bill-from-party entity, where the price information package includes a price entity, where the price entity further includes a gross amount and a net amount, and where the item package includes at least one item entity, where each item entity further includes an item entity ID and a item entity type code; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.

21. The distributed system of claim 20, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.

22. The distributed system of claim 20, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.

23. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for requesting the buyer to procure products externally using a request;

a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package hierarchically organized as;

a purchase requirement message entity; and

a purchase requirement package comprising a purchase requirement entity and an item package, where the purchase requirement entity includes a purchase requirement entity ID and a creation date time, and where the item package includes at least one item entity and a schedule line package for each item entity, and further where each item entity includes an item entity ID and each schedule line package includes a schedule line entity; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.

24. The distributed system of claim 23, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.

25. The distributed system of claim 23, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.

26. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for notifying a supply planner about the available sources of supplies using a request;

a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as;

a source of supply message entity; and

a source of supply package comprising a source of supply entity, where the source of supply entity includes an active indicator, a deleted indicator, and a validity period; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.

27. The distributed system of claim 26, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.

28. The distributed system of claim 26, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.

29. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for requesting the delivery of goods or provision of services using a request;

a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as;

a purchase order message entity; and

a purchase order package comprising a purchase order entity, where the purchase order entity includes a purchase order entity ID; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.

30. The distributed system of claim 29, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.

31. The distributed system of claim 29, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.

32. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for requesting cancellation of a request for the delivery of goods or provision of services using a request;

a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as;

a purchase order cancellation message entity; and

a purchase order cancellation package comprising a purchase order cancellation entity, where the purchase order cancellation entity includes a purchase order cancellation entity ID; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.

33. The distributed system of claim 32, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.

34. The distributed system of claim 32, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.

35. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for requesting an acknowledgement that at least one service has been entered using a request;

a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as;

a service acknowledgement message entity; and

a service acknowledgement package comprising a service acknowledgement entity, where the service acknowledgement entity includes a service acknowledgement entity ID; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.

36. The distributed system of claim 35, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.

37. The distributed system of claim 35, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.

38. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for requesting participation in an RFQ process for a product or service using a request;

a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as;

an RFQ message entity; and

an RFQ package comprising an RFQ entity, where the RFQ entity includes an RFQ entity ID, a quote submission date time, an RFQ public indicator, a quote price bidding condition code, a quote quantity bidding condition code, and a quote item bidding condition code; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.

39. The distributed system of claim 38, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.

40. The distributed system of claim 38, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.

41. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for requesting cancellation of a request for participation in an RFQ process for a product or service using a request;

a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as;

an RFQ cancellation message entity; and

an RFQ cancellation package comprising an RFQ cancellation entity, where the RFQ cancellation entity includes an RFQ cancellation entity ID; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.

42. The distributed system of claim 41, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.

43. The distributed system of claim 41, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.