Automated configuration catalog
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automating manufacturing processes integrates customer-created orders into the manufacturing process. A method allows a manufacturer to automate a catalog process. The method includes creating a catalog of configurable products including at least one of non-commodity products and services and presenting a data file via a communication medium to a purchaser. The purchaser may include a customer, a third party acting on behalf of the customer and a supplier. The data file allows the purchaser to configure the products independent of a third party provided configuration tool by including manipulable parameters that enable configuration of non-commodity product or service. For example, the manipulable parameters may include upgrades, downgrades and swapping of components. Further, the data file is configured to be incorporated into a procurement system, the data file providing a catalog of configurable components.
97 Citations
71 Claims
-
1-30. -30. (canceled)
-
31. A method for a manufacturer to automate a catalog process, the method comprising:
-
creating a catalog of configurable products including at least one of non-commodity products and services; and
presenting a data file, the data file including the catalog, the presenting via a communication medium to a purchaser, the data file including manipulable parameters that enable configuration of a non-commodity product or service, the manipulable parameters including upgrades, downgrades and swapping of components; and
,non-manipulable parameters that contribute to the configuration of a non-commodity product or service, the non-manipulable parameters including parent components, orphan components, child components, configuration components and optional components. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
-
-
46. A method for a manufacturer to automate a catalog process, the method comprising:
-
creating a catalog of configurable products including at least one of non-commodity products and services; and
presenting a data file, the data file including the catalog, the presenting via a communication medium to a purchaser, the data file including a configuration identifier, a price of the configuration, a type of component identifier, the type of component include custom or bundled, upgrades, downgrades, an additions permitted with pricing component, work flow data identifying add configurations, discontinue configuration, replace configuration, effective date, and a discontinue date.
-
-
60. A method for a manufacturer to automate a catalog process, the method comprising:
-
creating a catalog of configurable products including at least one of non-commodity products and services; and
presenting a data file, the data file including the catalog, the presenting via a communication medium to a purchaser; and
,transmitting an action code within the data file denoting product configurations requiring replacement in a procurement system, the action code permitting a purchaser receiving the data file to update open orders in the procurement system prior to delivery of an order without manual interaction.
-
-
66. A method for a manufacturer to automate a catalog process, the method comprising:
-
creating a catalog of configurable products including at least one of non-commodity products and services;
presenting a data file, the data file including-the catalog, the presenting-via a communication medium to a purchaser, the data file including configuration parameters, the configuration parameters including a configuration identifier, a price of a configuration, a type of component identifier, an additions permitted with pricing parameter, work flow data identifying add configurations, discontinue configuration, replace configuration, effective date, and a discontinue date;
manipulable parameters that enable configuration of a non-commodity product or service, the manipulable parameters including upgrades, downgrades and swapping of components; and
,non-manipulable parameters that contribute to the configuration of a non-commodity product or service, the non-manipulable parameters including parent components, orphan components, child components, configuration components and optional components; and
,transmitting an action code within the data file denoting product configurations requiring replacement in a procurement system, the action code permitting a purchaser receiving the data file to update open orders in the procurement system prior to delivery of an order without manual interaction. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
-
Specification