Charles Mathew Atkinson

US Patent:

7685139, Mar 23, 2010

Filed:

Nov 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/557219

Inventors:

Charles Sidney Atkinson - Apex NC, US
William J. Reilly - Cary NC, US
William Richard Sadek - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 17/00

US Classification:

707100

Abstract:

A method for translating a stock keeping unit (SKU) hierarchy in a customer order to a type-model-feature (TMF) structure in a vendor's order fulfillment system. A translation table relating the SKU hierarchy and TMF structure is defined. The SKU hierarchy includes SKU numbers that identify a configurable part and configurable options that specify a product. An initial order for the product includes the SKU hierarchy. Using the translation table, the SKU numbers are translated into an instance of the TMF structure. A multi-value characteristic is populated with values that include the SKU numbers and subline identifiers. A second order for the product is created that includes the instance of the TMF structure and subline values associated with the SKU number that identifies the configurable part.

US Patent:

7962378, Jun 14, 2011

Filed:

Jul 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/773480

Inventors:

Charles S. Atkinson - Apex NC, US
Hima K. Goverdhana - Cary NC, US
Daniel P. Huskey - Raleigh NC, US
Shrish Javalkar - Cary NC, US
Anandakrishnan Narayanan - Morrisville NC, US
William J. Reilly - Cary NC, US
Derdre A. Wessel - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 2681, 705 261, 705 268, 705 271

Abstract:

A process and methodology are disclosed to maintain consistency across disparate systems. An interface is provided comprised of a fulfillment client in which to place orders, a middleware to pass data, manufacturing and shipment systems to process orders, and a shipping and packing information repository system to house data. The methodology implements, inter alia, remote function calls to the asynchronously/synchronously interfaced systems during defined points of order processing to establish the status of the systems availability and the status of the order at the exact time of a predetermined activity. Also, information regarding the order status is posted as both a displayed on-line message to a user and in distinct status fields for future review. Furthermore, this method dynamically reacts to failed communication through the resetting of orders to a previous state to ensure data integrity across the distributed computing environment.

US Patent:

7966207, Jun 21, 2011

Filed:

Sep 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/852347

Inventors:

Brad M. Altice - Wake Forest NC, US
Charles S. Atkinson - Apex NC, US
Robert J. Banker - Raleigh NC, US
Ji Yuan Bian - Shanghai, CN
Edward H. Carter - Raleigh NC, US
Leonid Derbinsky - Cary NC, US
Docelyn Lordeus - Raleigh NC, US
Anandakrishnan Narayanan - Morrisville NC, US
Aparicio I. Ranghel - Cary NC, US
William J. Reilly - Cary NC, US
Jorge M. Salas - Durham NC, US
Yi-Wen C. Tan - Raleigh NC, US
Deirdre A. Wessel - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

705 711, 705301, 705 712, 705 723

Abstract:

A method, system and program product for optimally managing fulfillment of orders that are channeled through a diversified manufacturing environment that utilizes different process models, product nomenclatures and communication methods. The method includes sending by a contemporary fulfillment application to a legacy application a scheduling request for an order that includes a code recommending that the order is deemed eligible for fulfillment by a specific manufacturing site. The method further includes returning by the legacy application a scheduling response providing scheduling information for the order and confirming that the order is to be fulfilled by the specific manufacturing site. The method further includes transmitting a shipment request by the contemporary fulfillment application to a contemporary production application for routing delivery of the order to the specific manufacturing site and receiving a shipment response from the contemporary production application providing a delivery status of the order.