Abstract: A system for, and method of, locating a particular item from among a plurality of items identifiable by radio frequency identification (RFID) tags associated with the items, includes an interrogator for radio frequency (RF) signaling the tags to detect unique identifiers associated with the tags in a field of view of the interrogator; and an optical signaler for optically signaling one of the tags in the field of view to designate the particular item to be located.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a computerized method and system for tracking consumer replaceable units (CRU) used in products such as printing systems. In the method the CRUM ID and destination of the consumable is retrieved on shipment from a supplier. When the consumer replaceable unit is installed in a device such as printing system, the device reports the installation back to a management application. The management application then proceeds to authorize the consumable for the reporting printing system, offer to transfer ownership, or when the printing system is not a managed device then offers a customer the option of being billed for the consumable. The management application has the option of disabling printing with customer replaceable unit when reassignment or intent to purchase is not available. When the consumable is returned the management application can ascertain if the customer replaceable unit was used by its assigned printing device.

Abstract: The specification and drawing figures describe and show a system for pairing and decoupling vehicle components. The vehicle components may be disparate and distantly located from one another. The system includes a network management center having one or more data processing systems that may communicate with the vehicle components. An integrated wireless equipment management system is included whose components are mountable on the vehicle components, and operatively connectable to the network management center. Asset tracking units are located on each vehicle component, and are operatively connectable to the network management center. At least one executable program is included that is capable of processing data received across the integrated wireless equipment management system to establish a compatible communications connection between the asset tracking units to correctly pair the vehicle components.

Abstract: An asset management system includes a controller area network bus and a data acquisition module connected to the controller area network bus. The data acquisition module has a plurality of analog input channels. One or more sensor systems are connected to the input channels with the input channels receiving analog signals from the sensor systems. The data acquisition module passively conditions the received analog signals prior to digital conversion.

Abstract: An inventory monitoring controller maintains information reflecting a current inventory of articles based on radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying information received from one or more RFID tag readers in the context of inventory polling operations. In an embodiment, the controller also adjusts an operational parameter (e.g., a missing article detection threshold or a variable polling parameter) based on an analysis of the RFID tag identifying information. For example, a variable polling parameter may be adjusted in response to an occurrence of a triggering event (e.g., an inventory change indicated by the RFID tag identifying information or an occurrence of a temporal event), and a missing article detection threshold may be adjusted based on historical information relating to the detection of (or failure to detect) a particular RFID tag.

Abstract: The method for reducing vendor bid amounts includes providing a supplier with an invitation to make a bid for supplying a digital print job. The print job is characterized by a demand for a first number of units by a select date. The method further includes determining if a demand condition can be met. The determination includes using historical data to calculate a first commitment quantity for current jobs being provided by the supplier. The first commitment quantity is then used to calculate a second commitment quantity. The second commitment quantity provides an estimate for the number of the units and a date. The second commitment quantity is displayed to the supplier. The method provides the supplier with an option to bid for producing the estimated number of units by the estimated date.

Abstract: A computer program is embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program manages order of parts according to a production plan. The computer program, when run on a computer, controls the computer to execute functions comprising developing a plurality of parts necessary to produce a product which comprises at least one of a first product model and a second product model, and required volume of each of the parts according to the product model. The program also controls the computer to compare parts which were developed and required volume of the parts for the first product model with the parts which were developed and required volume of the parts for the second product model.

Abstract: An efficient method of boxing fuel injectors with a good yield where a predetermined quality is secured in a predetermined number of fuel injectors forming a set for one engine, that is, a method of boxing fuel injectors, a first number of which are scheduled to be mounted in an engine, in a single box in a second number larger than the first number, provided with a step of measuring a characteristic value for the second number of fuel injectors, wherein when the first number of the characteristic values forms a set, the number of combinations of the characteristic values where a total value of this one set's worth of the characteristic values becomes a first management value or less when selecting one set's worth of the characteristic values from the second number of the characteristic values, is defined as the “number of good part combinations”, and the number of possible combinations of one set's worth of the characteristic values is defined as the “number of possible combinations”, the fuel injectors bein

Abstract: A warehouse management system can include pick platforms, each having an identifier associated therewith. A mobile computing device can be associated with a pick platform based on the identifier and may be associated with one of the pick platforms at a time. A director computing device can be in communication with the mobile computing device and can transmit pick instructions to the mobile computing device based on a currently associated pick platform.

Abstract: A computer-based method for administering performance of a contract uses a server accessible by multiple performing parties through a data network, such as the Internet. The method includes receiving performance data at the server from at least one of the performing parties through the data network. The performance data indicates an amount of work performed under the contract by the performing party, and may further include an amount of materials stored. A payment amount is determined based on the performance data. A schedule of values associated with performance of the contract may be initially stored, so that determining the payment amount is further based on comparing the performance data with the schedule of values. The payment amount is sent from the server to other performing parties through the data network. The other performing parties may be notified by an email indicating, for example, that the payment amount has been approved.

Abstract: A system and method including collecting image data of a purchase receipt; converting image data to machine readable data; generating a receipt model including at least one line item from the machine readable text data; selecting a product profile to associate with a line item through one of a tiered set of receipt heuristics, that includes: through a direct identifier heuristic, searching for a product identifier from a line item that corresponds to a product profile, and through an approximate match heuristic, calculating a score for the line item compared to at least one product profile of a master product list; and accounting for the selected product profile of the line item.

Abstract: A central accounting and billing system for enterprises providing service and supply operations for business machines located in a plurality of customer locations employing a fleet of vehicles each carrying a trunk inventory of frequently required repair parts and supplies. An ERP system at a central location generates machine-readable identification tags which are applied to parts and services carried in each of the trunk inventories and are applied to the machines to be serviced. Smart handheld devices such as cell phones contain programs which allow the identification tags to be read and communications to be established to the central ERP system relating to transfer of goods and supplies into and out of the trunk inventory and to the businesses and also the time involved in servicing particular machines at particular businesses in order to generate bills from the central enterprise to such businesses.

Abstract: Example methods disclosed herein to manage and process data associated with network usage include creating first links to represent relationships between event data items and rated data items, and creating second links to represent relationships between the rated data items and billed data items. Such example methods also include, in response to a request for network usage information associated with a first billed data item received after the first billed data item has been generated, processing a first one of the second links to identify a first rated data item associated with the first billed data item, processing a first one of the first links to identify a first event data item associated with the first rated data item, and returning the first event data item in response to the request.

Abstract: An integrated system for managing changes in regulatory and non-regulatory requirements for business activities at an industrial or commercial facility. Application of this system to environmental, health and safety activities, and to food, drug, cosmetic, and medical treatment and device activities, are discussed as examples.

Abstract: A method and system for managing business transactions, such as mortgages or other financial transactions. A business transaction between an end user and a financial institution includes sub-transactions between the end user and a vendor. A software system performs functions to complete the business transaction. Automated ordering allows an end user to quickly and easily order a sub-transaction without input from the financial institution or the vendor, and also automatically orders sub-transactions upon satisfaction of a trigger event. Vendor management functionality allows a financial institution to manage the transactions of a vendor. Qualitative performance analysis functionality allows an end user to monitor and evaluate a vendor's price, turn-around time, quality score, and overall score. Vendor distribution functionality distributes sub-transactions among vendors.

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. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to an assortment plan, a merchandise and assortment planning assortment, a merchandise and assortment planning material, a merchandise and assortment planning product procurement arrangement, a merchandise and assortment planning sales price specification calculation, and/or a merchandise and assortment planning store layout element business object.

Abstract: A product configurator includes a constraint based network that includes a plurality of nodes. The configurator receives one or more user selections and generates one or more automatic selections to form a complete configuration. The configurator receives a request to change the configuration after forming the complete configuration, and retracts the automatic selections. For each of the retracted automatic selections, the configurator determines if the retracted automatic selection is a configuration-defining selection and reasserts the configuration-defining selections.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method to determine criteria for selecting a donor vehicle containing a non-indexed auto part are provided. An index of interchangeable auto parts is utilized to determine the criteria by relying on the interchangeability of indexed auto parts. Once determined, donor vehicles matching the determined criteria may have a higher probability of containing a non-indexed auto part sought by a customer.

Abstract: A document submission management system calculates predicted values of the amount of consumption of consumables used for printing processing according to an order from a user, estimates the cost of the printing processing based on the predicted values, and transmits the estimated cost to a client terminal of the user. A user interface allowing placement of an order briefly displays the cost for a print option. For the cost estimate, the cost of printing form data used in printing processing is registered in advance in a memory in the document submission management system, so that time required for the calculation of the estimate is reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a build set and a BOM from user selected options from a single source model.

Abstract: A system for managing an inventory of process control devices in a process plant includes a computer workstation, a database storing instrument specification data for one or more process control devices used for controlling a process performed in the process plant environment, a wireless gateway adapted to wirelessly communicate with wireless enabled process control devices in the process plant environment, a communication bus interconnecting the wireless gateway, the computer workstation, and the database, an inventory control application executed by the computer workstation. The inventory control application is adapted to interrogate a received process control device via the wireless gateway to receive device data from the received process control device identifying and describing the received process control device.

Abstract: Verification of an inventory of stored products may be achieved by obtaining an image of the stored products and using text, optical character, and other feature recognition techniques to determine product identification and storage location. A comparison between earlier and current images of the same storage location is used to identify which locations have changed, i.e., from which locations have products been moved, removed, or added. The earlier and current images of the changed locations may be displayed to a user to visually inspect the differences between the images and verify the changes in inventory represented by those differences.

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. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a funds management center, an individual material, and/or a measuring device business object.

Abstract: Techniques for performing an accounts payable process may include receiving transaction data including at least one of invoice data, purchase order data, and vendor data; and verifying a transaction by matching a dynamic data set of client-specified multi-dimensional criteria to the transaction data. An accounts payable system may include a host system in communication with one or more client systems. The host system may include a matching database configured to receive an accounts payable file including at least one of invoice data, purchase order data, and vendor data; and verify a transaction by matching a dynamic data set of client-specified multi-dimensional records to attributes of the accounts payable file.

Abstract: A system for performing a part inventory analysis is provided. In response to determining a current part inventory, current order demands on the current part inventory are determined. The current part inventory is segmented. An order demand coverage is determined for each segment of the segmented inventory based on the current order demands. A conditioned part inventory is determined based on a loaner part inventory analysis of the segmented inventory. A part purchase recommendation is calculated based on the conditioned part inventory. Then, data for the segmented inventory, the order demand coverage, the conditioned part inventory, and the part purchase recommendation are stored in a storage device.

Abstract: A visible-light based display system may be used to project visual guidance to picking and/or stowing agents in a materials handling facility dependent on their current location. The system may comprise a plurality of fixed-location display devices and/or mobile display devices coupled to a control system. The control system may send messages to particular ones of the display devices for projection of visual guidance usable to direct an agent to a particular inventory area in which an item is to be stowed or from which an item is to be picked, to identify a particular position within an inventory area, and/or to identify a particular item stored within an inventory area. The messages may include location, position, and/or descriptive information associated with an item to be stowed or picked. The projected visual guidance may include light or laser beams, text, graphics and/or images, and may be agent-specific, item-specific, and/or order-specific.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments describe an automatic, adaptive system and method for efficiently and effectively scheduling advertising spots in commercial break locations across various networks, zones, channels, dates, times, and specific products, for example. The disclosed embodiments make use of fixed and relative factors, that may be user-defined, which assign a “cost” to one or more particular breaks which thereby allow for quick and accurate scheduling of spots. The “costs” may represent a value, or desirability, of a break for the advertiser and may be a function of both the fixed and relative factors. The fixed and relative factors may be configurable and may change for different advertising clients, different contract lines, different networks, different spot placement, etc. The placement of spots may be accomplished through the use of an ordered list which may be generated based on a number of inputs that may be user-selected.

Abstract: A computerized system for scheduling a plurality of work orders in a manufacturing process. Each work order specifies operations to be performed using a plurality of resources and materials. Data including resource availability information for each resource used in the manufacturing process, material availability information for each material used in the manufacturing process, and work order information is received and stored in a computer. The work order information includes a release date for the work order, a want date for the work order, operations information, and material requirements information. Resource capacity and a start date/time and a finish date/time are assigned to each operation based upon the resource availability information, the material availability information, and the work order information. The assigned resource capacity, the assigned start date/time, and the assigned finish date/time for each operation are displayed on a computer screen in a graphical format.

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. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to an individual material bill of material and/or an order tracking view business object.

Abstract: An automated tool for analyzing inter-library loan (ILL) transactions to identify holding needs for a library. The automated tool may be used in conjunction with a bibliographic database that comprises data related to inter-library loan requests and document orders. Libraries have the ability to compare borrowing requests over time to identify acquisition priorities, compare borrowing requests based on age, subject, serial, and nonserial items, analyze items the library is borrowing, and analyze items the library is lending. ILL request data may be analyzed by date, by frequency, and by cost. The library may then decide to acquire additional holdings for its collection based on the analyses of ILL transaction data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing plan-driven procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include The process components include an RFQ Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Purchasing Contract Processing process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an External Procurement Trigger and Response process component, and a Customer Requirement Processing process component.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically determining substitution chains that are valid during a rules-based ATP check for an order item. In one implementation, a system is provided that includes an interface for interfacing with a plurality of data storage devices in at least one of which a plurality of stock items are stored as data. The system also includes an execution memory storing software and a buffer for temporarily storing data. A processor coupled to the interface and the execution memory may carry out an availability check in which a replacement chain describing replacements is stored in the buffer. The replacement chain may be determined by one or more of rules defining substitutions.

Abstract: A method for displaying values specified in a number of offers for a number of offer variables with respect to price includes receiving data for multiple offers that reflects values specified in the offers for multiple offer variables and generating a display of the received data. The display includes multiple offer variable windows that are each associated with an offer variable. Each offer variable window includes an offer price axis representing a range of offer prices and an offer variable axis substantially perpendicular to the offer price axis that represents a range of values for the offer variable associated with the offer variable window. Each offer variable window includes multiple bars. Each bar represents a value specified in offer for the offer variable associated with the offer variable window and is positioned with respect to the offer price axis according to an offer price specified in the offers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a services architecture design that provides enterprise services having customer relationship management functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating acquisition of automotive core parts from automotive recyclers for remanufacture includes identifying automotive cores and determining the value of the cores with a core fulfillment system. The system identifies automotive cores for an auction house and uses an aggregate value of the cores to determine a value of a vehicle up for bidding. Vehicle or part type information is compared to automotive core descriptions, automotive interchange numbers, and core supplier indicators to identify the automotive cores. A core value is assigned to the identified automotive cores, and an aggregate value of core inventory is determined based upon a total of assigned core values. A vehicle evaluation page can be displayed to the bidder showing the identified automotive cores and an aggregate core value indicating an offer for purchase price that a core supplier will pay to the bidder for the vehicle up for bidding.

Abstract: Federated management framework for credential data. The framework permits credential-using applications to provide user interface panels and associated semantics to manage the credentials that are relevant to each application. This framework is suitable for use in a multi-application environment where credentials are shared among each the applications. With this framework, each management user interface associated with one of the applications can have the credentials appear in the interface. Furthermore, the framework can detect when one application's management user interface attempts a modification to a credential that will affect another application that has an interest that credential.

Abstract: In a parallel explosion unit of a parallel explosion apparatus, a processing unit extracts an end product, extracts an assembly directly constituting the end product, and an determines whether or not a BOM tree having the assembly as a vertex is already broken down. When the BOM tree of the assembly is not yet broken down, the processing unit registers the number of units of each component constituting the assembly in an explosion result list and generates a tree-specific list in which the number of units of each component and a registration position of the component in the explosion result list are recorded. When the BOM tree of the assembly is already broken down, the processing unit adds the number of units of each component recorded in the tree-specific list to the number of units at the registration position of the component likewise recorded in the explosion result list.

Abstract: Techniques for managing and estimating supply costs, by drilling down through detailed component lists of tree structured component specifications and rolling up pricing estimates based on predetermined, projected and available criteria and automatically accounting for costs in an organized manner. The costs may be analyzed from a historical perspective, accounting for future costs based on historical cost data within a given past or future date range. The costs may also be analyzed based on average costs of available costed items. Quotes can be received from suppliers for use in estimating supply costs. In addition, scenarios such as partnership splits, where multiple suppliers manufacture and supply common components to buyers at same or different prices, can be taken into account.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing plan-driven procurement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Inbound Delivery Processing process component, a Site Logistics Processing process component, an Inventory Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Purchasing Contract process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Demand Forecast Processing process component, a Supply and Demand Matching process component, an External Procurement Trigger and Response process component, and a Logistics Execution Control process component.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first parameters and second parameters for a comparison of a first multilevel bill of material and a second multilevel bill of material. Internal items based on the first parameters are compared to determine differences between the internal items in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material. If an internal item matches in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material, associations for the matched internal item are compared based on the second parameters to determine differences between the associations in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material. A report is generated showing a result of the comparing of the internal items and the comparing of the associations, wherein the report shows unmatched internal items and unmatched associations for matched first items. The report can then be displayed.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which use known characteristics of a part to identify that part's equivalent from a supplier with a proprietary part catalog which contains characteristics defined using different structure, standards and nomenclature. The system tries to identify the correct part number or equivalent to a given part, but the supplier may have a different part numbering system than used by the individuals performing the search. The system then utilizes at least one part characteristic and/or a vehicle identifier and uses them to search the proprietary supplier catalog to retrieve a part record with substantially similar part characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention automates the process of receiving transportation documentation and producing advance loading manifests therefrom to optimize load planning and dynamic product shipment and delivery control. Methods provide for receipt of the transportation documentation, initial preparation, and transmission of the documentation from on board a vehicle or while the vehicle is in transit.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates employing a graphical user interface to monitor and/or manage an asset within an industrial environment. A graphical user interface can facilitate asset management including a first field that provides a user with a hierarchical representation of assets within an industrial environment. The graphical user interface can further include a second field that displays available management functionality associated with an asset selected within the first field.

Abstract: A broadband intelligent event repository may be provided. The broadband intelligent repository may allow a cross processing life cycle phase view of an event. In addition, the broadband intelligent repository may provide for the ability to associate all recordings associated with a given event. Furthermore, the broadband intelligent repository may provide the ability to view events as they morph through the various phases of the processing life cycle. The events may occur at elements within a data network. The data network may be configured to provide at least one of the following services: voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) communications services, video services, Internet services, and e-mail services.

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. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a cost model, a current account contract, and/or a collateral constellation business object.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method of managing equipment. The system incorporates a tagging device to attach identification tags to each piece of equipment. A scanning device is used to read the identification tags and relay this information to an equipment server. An input device is used to input information to the equipment server. The equipment server runs the equipment management program. The system flags a potential asset assigned to an asset creating individual. Equipment is designated an asset after use in an asset creating event.

Abstract: A method and system for automating the management of an inventory of consumer items at a consumer location uses a programmed device that accepts input data and executes control logic for automating inventory management. At least one shopping list is received, a shopping list trend is established, and a smart list is generated with the control logic, in accordance with the shopping list trend, such that the smart list predictive of a next shopping list.

Abstract: A system for automatically replacing loaner parts within a loaner system to prevent loaner system callback. In response to selecting a loaner system within loaner inventory data, it is determined whether the selected loaner system is required to be returned based on a target return date for the selected loaner system. In response to determining that the selected loaner system is not required to be returned, a notification is automatically generated and sent to a customer to return expiring loaner parts within the selected loaner system based on loaner part rules. A part replacement order is automatically generated for replacement loaner parts for each of the expiring loaner parts. Then, the replacement loaner parts are automatically shipped to the customer to replace the expiring loaner parts to prevent callback of the selected loaner system.

Abstract: A method of facilitating broker mediated matching of a potential buyer of a spare part with a potential seller of the spare part, the potential seller having an inventory of spare parts for use in a manufacturing process run by the potential seller, the method comprising the following steps undertaken by the broker: (a) receiving a request for the spare part from a potential buyer, (b) enquiring with a potential seller as to the presence of the spare part in its inventory, (c) if the spare part is present, assessing whether or not the spare part is excess to the foreseeable needs of the potential seller in running the manufacturing process efficiently by the application of software that presents a series of questions for answering by the potential seller, the answers to which will reveal whether or not the spare part is excess to said needs, and (d) if the spare part is excess to said needs, providing means by which the potential seller and potential buyer will communicate with each other, whereby they may fi

Abstract: A computer based system is provided that is capable of displaying component and process structures for configurable product classes stored in a data structure. Product classes in the data structure are represented by product nodes. Components, which are abstractions of concrete items used in the product, are represented by component nodes. Component nodes are mapped to each product class with which the component is associated, and are associated with one or more component variants, which are concrete items used in the manufacture of a particular product variant. Process nodes, which are abstractions of actual steps required to produce a product variant, known as process variants, are represented by process nodes. The computer based system can display several alternative views of the data structure. For example, upon receiving a selection for a particular product class, the computer based system converts and can graphically display all component and process nodes associated with that product class.