Asset tracking in a network-based supply chain environment

• US 7,124,101 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Mikurak, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jagdish N
• Application Number:
  US09/444,653
• Time in Patent Office: 2,521 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40, 705/7, 705/35, 705/8
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

The present disclosure controls the network and manages resources for managing network assets through in a network-based supply chain framework. Network assets are available to network users. One user may submit information reguarding potential for growth, the capacity, or the technological level of one of the network assets. Another user may submit similar information about another network asset. Based on the information from the users, the system may determine the optimal set of network assets. When network events about the assets are recieved, the events can be filtered, correlated and isolated. These events can then be translated into a standard object form for facilitating the determination of the problem causing the network event.

Claims

1. A method for a framework manager to provide network asset management in a network-based supply chain framework between at least a first framework user and a second framework user, such as a service provider, vendor, reseller, or manufacturer, the method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of network assets on a network for use by the first framework user and the second framework user;

(b) receiving information via the network from the first framework user, wherein the information from the first framework user includes information relating to present network assets of the first framework user from the plurality of network assets and information relating to a set of network asset considerations comprising potential for growth of a network asset, capacity of a network asset, technological level of a network asset, and amount of a network asset;

(c) receiving information via the network from the second framework user, wherein the information from the second framework user includes information relating to present network assets of the second framework user from the plurality of network assets and information relating to a set of network asset considerations comprising potential for growth of a network asset, capacity of a network asset, technological level of a network asset, and amount of a network asset;

(d) determining the needed optimal network assets based on the present network assets of the first framework user and the second framework user, wherein the optimal network assets are determined according to at least one of the network asset considerations, and wherein the needed network assets include both packet-switched and circuit-switched network assets; and

(e) upon determining the needed optimal network assets, managing such optimal network assets by;

i) using the network to receive events from the network assets of the first framework user and the second framework user;

ii) filtering and correlating the events, whereby problems with the network assets of the first framework user and the second framework user are further isolated; and

iii) translating the filtered and isolated events into a standard object format for facilitating the determination of the life cycle of problem network assets.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising using the network to manage the life cycle of network assets of at least the first framework user and the second framework user.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein a life cycle management model is utilized for managing the life cycle of the network assets.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein an asset tracking tool is utilized for tracking the network assets.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first framework user is a service provider and the second framework user is a manufacturer of network assets, the method further comprising the framework manager;

using the network to manage the roll-out of services provided by the first framework user and manufacturer of network assets offerings provided by the second framework user based on the received present network asset information.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein a network-based roll-out planning tool is utilized for managing the roll-out of network services provided by the first framework user and manufacturer offerings provided by the second framework user.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the framework manager:

using the network to facilitate the sharing of technology between the first framework user and the second framework user.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 for technology sharing during asset management in a network-based supply chain, comprising:

(a) developing content of a technology interface for sharing technology on the network;

(b) managing the content of the technology interface and the network assets of the network;

(c) approving the publication of the content before transmission of the content; and

(d) testing the content of the technology interface.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein developing content of a technology interface is carried out by a technology version controller.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein developing the content of the technology interface includes automatically notifying a content developer of a work assignment during management of network assets.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein managing the content and network assets includes assigning a secure access for specific users and specific projects.

12. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein managing the content and network assets includes maintaining meta data.

13. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein approving the publication of the content includes assigning use and access restrictions on the content.

14. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein testing the content of the technology interface includes comparing versions of the technology interface.

15. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein testing the content of the technology interface includes using remote and automatic testing capabilities.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 for managing network assets through asset tracking further comprising the framework manager:

(a) caching content of a network;

(b) providing application proxy services on the network;

(c) managing resources of the network;

(d) managing network objects on the network;

(e) controlling at least one of bandwidth and speed of the network;

(f) enabling remote access services on the network;

(g) affording firewall services on the network; and

(h) wherein steps (a)–

(g) are carried out for tracking assets of the network.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of caching content of the network includes accessing the cached content without accessing the original content source and automatically updating the cached content.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of providing application proxy services on the network includes controlling access permissions.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of managing resources of the network includes identifying and automatically bypassing an unavailable network object.

20. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of controlling at least one of bandwidth and speed of the network is based on a user profile.

21. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of enabling remote access services on the network includes enabling a high density modem pool and providing a remote access point.

22. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of enabling remote access services on the network includes providing an integrated firewall and access control.

23. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of affording firewall services on the network includes controlling the network access based on a security rule.

24. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of affording firewall services on the network includes storing and reporting firewall functions and firewall attacks.

25. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as used on a computer for a framework manager to provide network asset management in a network-based supply chain framework between at least a first framework user and a second framework user, such as a service provider, vendor, reseller, or manufacturer, comprising:

(a) code means for providing a plurality of network assets on a network for use by the first framework user and the second framework user;

(b) code means for receiving information via the network from the first framework user, wherein the information from the first framework user includes information relating to present network assets of the first framework user from the plurality of network assets and information relating to a set of network asset considerations comprising potential for growth of a network asset, capacity of a network asset, technological level of a network asset, and amount of a network asset;

(c) code means for receiving information via the network from the second framework user, wherein the information from the second framework user includes information relating to present network assets of the second framework user from the plurality of network assets and information relating to a set of network asset considerations comprising potential for growth of a network asset, capacity of a network asset, technological level of a network asset, and amount of a network asset;

(d) code means for determining the needed optimal network assets based on the present network assets of the first framework user and the second framework user, wherein the optimal network assets are determined according to at least one the network asset considerations, and wherein the needed network assets include both packet-switched and circuit-switched network assets; and

(e) code means for managing such optimal network assets by;

i) using the network to receive events from the network assets of the first framework user and the second framework user;

ii) filtering and correlating the events, whereby problems with the network assets of the first framework user and the second framework user are further isolated; and

iii) translating the filtered and isolated events into a standard object format for facilitating the determination of the life cycle of problem network assets.

26. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

code means for using the network to manage the life cycle of network assets of at least the first framework user and the second framework user.

27. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 25 wherein the first framework user is a service provider and the third business entity is a manufacturer of network assets, further comprising the framework manager:

code means for using the network to manage the roll-out of services provided by the first framework user and manufacturer of network assets offerings provided by the second framework user based on the received present network asset information.

28. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 25, further comprising the framework manager:

code means for using the network to facilitate the sharing of technology between the first framework user and the second framework user.

29. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 28 for technology sharing during asset management in a network-based supply chain, comprising:

(a) code means for developing content of a technology interface for sharing technology on the network;

(b) code means for managing the content of the technology interface and the network assets of the network;

(c) code means for approving the publication of the content before transmission of the content; and

(d) code means for testing the content of the technology interface.

30. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 25 for managing network assets through asset tracking further comprising the framework manager:

(a) code means for caching content of a network;

(b) code means for providing application proxy services on the network;

(c) code means for managing resources of the network;

(d) code means for managing network objects on the network;

(e) code means for controlling at least one of bandwidth and speed of the network;

(f) code means for enabling remote access services on the network;

(g) code means for affording firewall services on the network; and

(h) code means for wherein steps (a)–

(g) are carried out for tracking assets of the network.

31. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of affording firewall services on the network includes storing and reporting firewall functions and firewall attacks.