Managing access to and updating warehouse data

• US 20070094261A1
• Filed: 10/24/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sullivan, Patrick, Tonhouse, Gary, Phelan, Raymond, Meyer, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,001,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products manage access to and update warehouse data associated with one or multiple online data systems. A security role is established for each user of warehouse operation functions associated with the online data system. A method involves examining warehouse data and updating a status of warehouse operations, detecting a security role of a current user accessing the data system, and rendering warehouse operation functions and the status via an interface. The method further involves receiving a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions, determining whether the security role of the current user authorizes access to the warehouse operation function selected, and prohibiting access to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does not authorize access to the selected warehouse operation function.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing access to and updating warehouse data in at least one online data system wherein a security role is established for each user of warehouse operation functions for the online data system, the method comprising:

examining warehouse data and updating a status of warehouse operations;

detecting a security role of a current user accessing the data system;

rendering one or more warehouse operation functions and the status via an interface;

receiving a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions;

determining whether the security role of the current user authorizes access to the warehouse operation function selected; and

prohibiting access to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does not authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein prohibiting access to the warehouse operation function selected comprises rendering a read-only notice of via the interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering a second interface corresponding to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving input via the second interface to perform one or more of the warehouse operations wherein the second interface displays tailored warehouse operation functionality accessible to the current user based on the security role therein excluding warehouse operation functionality inaccessible to the current user based on the security role.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving input via the second interface to perform one or more of the warehouse operations wherein the second interface displays warehouse operation functionality accessible to the current user based on the security role and warehouse operation functionality inaccessible to the current user based on the security role.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

prohibiting access to perform the warehouse operations for which the input is received when the input is received for the warehouse functionality inaccessible to the current user based on the security role.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

executing the warehouse operations for which the input is received when the input is received for the warehouse functionality accessible to the current user based on the security role.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

tracking at least one of intermediate issuing or intermediate shipping activity of one or more items between picking the items and final issuing or shipping of the items;

tracking one or more other items which cannot be received into the online data system; and

updating the online data system based on the warehouse operations executed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein updating the online data system comprises updating multiple online data systems based on the warehouse operations executed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering the status comprises displaying at least one of a priority or a number of pending items associated with one or more of the warehouse operation functions wherein the priority comprises one of the following:

immediate action required;

action required; and

no action required.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions comprises receiving a selection of at least one of the following:

receiving inbound inventory;

picking outbound inventory;

packing outbound inventory;

shipping outbound inventory;

locating inventory data;

changing inventory data; and

viewing inventory data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting a security role of a current user accessing the data system comprises determining a work responsibility role of the current user, wherein the work responsibility role comprises one of the following:

a warehouse worker authorized to access all warehouse operation functions;

a quality inspector authorized to record parts needing inspection;

a warehouse stocker authorized to record a final bin location of a part;

a warehouse picker of parts authorized to record parts as picked;

a warehouse shipper of parts authorized to record shipment information;

a warehouse issuer of parts authorized to perform an issue of part transaction; and

a warehouse data viewer authorized to view one or more warehouse data screens without update authorization.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein prohibiting access to the warehouse operation function selected comprises prohibiting access to a quality inspection receiving function in response to determining the work responsibility role comprises the warehouse shipper of parts which does not authorize access to the quality inspection receiving function.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein rendering a second interface corresponding to the warehouse operation function selected comprises displaying a receipt of stock input screen having a location and condition input field in response to determining the work responsibility role comprises the warehouse stocker of parts which does authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected;

and

wherein receipt of stock information is retrieved by receiving and scanning at least one of an order number, a part number, or a purchase order number.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to manage access to and update warehouse data associated with at least one online data system wherein a security role is established for each user of warehouse operation functions for the online data system, the control logic comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to:

examine warehouse data and update a status of warehouse operations;

detect a security role of a current user accessing the data system;

render one or more warehouse operation functions and the status via an input screen;

receive a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions;

determine whether the security role of the current user authorizes access to the warehouse operation function selected; and

tailor and render a second input screen based on the security role and the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected wherein the second input screen excludes warehouse operation functionality irrelevant or inaccessible to the current user based on the security role.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to prohibit access to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does not authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to:

execute the warehouse operations for which input is received track at least one of intermediate issuing or intermediate shipping activity of one or more items between picking the items and final issuing or shipping of the items;

track one or more other items which cannot be received into the online data system; and

update the online data system based on the warehouse operations executed.

18. A computer-implemented system for managing access to and updating warehouse data associated with at least one online data system wherein a security role is established for each user of warehouse operation functions associated with the online data system, the system comprising:

an online data system server housing the online data system;

a web server communicatively associated with the online data system server; and

a remote computer including a display screen, the remote computer communicatively associated with the web server over a network, the web server operative to;

examine warehouse data and update a status of warehouse operations;

detect a security role of a current user accessing the warehouse data;

render via the display screen one or more warehouse operation functions and the status;

receive a selection of one of the warehouse operation functions via the remote computer;

determine whether the security role of the current user authorizes access to the warehouse operation function selected; and

tailor and render one or more input interfaces via the display screen based on the security role in response to determining the security role does authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected wherein the input screens exclude warehouse operation functionality irrelevant to or inaccessible to the current user based on the security role.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote computer comprises a wireless tablet personal computer (PC) and wherein the web server is further operative to prohibit access to the warehouse operation function selected in response to determining the security role does not authorize access to the warehouse operation function selected.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the web server comprises:

one or more grief tables storing items which cannot be received into the online data system; and

one or more auxiliary shipping tables storing items in the process of being shipped, the web server further operative to;

execute the warehouse operations for which input is received;

track via the auxiliary shipping tables at least one of intermediate issuing or intermediate shipping activity of one or more items between picking the items and final issuing or shipping of the items;

track via the grief tables, the items which cannot be received into the online data system; and

update multiple online data systems via application program interfaces based on the warehouse operations executed.