U.S. patent application number 14/581049 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-23 for management of business.
The applicant listed for this patent is eBay Inc.. Invention is credited to Fadi B. Chehade, Tony P. Curwen, Linda York.
Application Number | 20150112873 14/581049 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25049154 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150112873 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chehade; Fadi B. ; et
al. |
April 23, 2015 |
MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS
Abstract
First business process data obtained from a first trading
participant includes a set of transaction messages having a first
data format in accordance with a first protocol for conducting
business transactions used by the first trading participant. A
virtual trading participant receives fictitious business process
data from the first trading participant and acknowledging the
fictitious business process data and replying to the first trading
participant that the fictitious business process data has been
acknowledged. Operational characteristics and a connectivity of a
currently trading participant connected to a process management
platform accessible via an interconnection fabric are tested, by
utilizing the virtual trading participant to determine if the data
defining individual business processes is in a uniform format
understood by a process management platform. The virtual trading
participant is utilized to ensure compatibility with an identified
version of the uniform format.
Inventors: |
Chehade; Fadi B.; (Irvine,
CA) ; Curwen; Tony P.; (Boca Raton, FL) ;
York; Linda; (Irvine, CA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
eBay Inc. |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
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|
Family ID: |
25049154 |
Appl. No.: |
14/581049 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14178009 |
Feb 11, 2014 |
8918337 |
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14581049 |
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13862158 |
Apr 12, 2013 |
8650116 |
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14178009 |
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13475073 |
May 18, 2012 |
8429063 |
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13862158 |
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12498578 |
Jul 7, 2009 |
8229836 |
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13475073 |
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09757771 |
Jan 9, 2001 |
7562041 |
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12498578 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/75 ;
705/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/401 20130101;
G06Q 30/06 20130101; G06Q 30/0605 20130101; H04L 67/10 20130101;
G06Q 40/04 20130101; G06Q 2220/00 20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101;
G06Q 10/087 20130101; G06Q 30/0617 20130101; G06Q 30/0613
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/75 ;
705/37 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 40/04 20120101
G06Q040/04; H04L 29/08 20060101 H04L029/08; G06Q 20/40 20060101
G06Q020/40 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: a storage medium comprising a plurality of
data protocols; and a computer system in communication with the
storage medium, wherein the computer system: accesses first data
having a first data protocol from a trading participant of a
business, wherein the first data defines individual business
functions required for the first trading participant; determines
that the plurality of data protocols includes the first data
protocol using a virtual trading participant as a testing recipient
for the first data; communicates an acceptance of the first data
protocol to the first trading participant; and processes a
transaction using the first data.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data comprises first
transaction messages having a first data format in the first data
protocol.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer system further
processes the transaction by: determining, by a process management
platform configured to manage a flow of the first transaction
messages in the first data and monitor the first transaction
messages, a second trading participant to satisfy the first data;
identifying a second data protocol for conducting the transactions
used by the second trading participant; generating second data
comprising second transaction messages having a second data format
from the first data, wherein the second transaction messages are in
accordance with the second data protocol; and transmitting the
second data to the second trading participant, wherein the first
and second trading participants conduct the transactions in
accordance with their respective protocols for conducting
transactions.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer system further
accesses the first data by: obtaining the first data by the process
management platform at a process gateway, and wherein the process
gateway interfaces with at least one legacy system of one or both
of the first trading participant and the second trading
participant.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer system further:
broadcasts the first data to the second trading participant,
wherein the process management platform is configured to utilize at
least one open protocol that defines a business function.
6. The system of claim 3, wherein the second data protocol differs
from the first data protocol, and wherein the first transaction
messages comprise an unencrypted header and encrypted payload data
compatible with the first data format, and wherein the computer
system further: decrypts the encrypted payload data and
subsequently re-encrypting the decrypted payload data according to
the second data format in accordance with the second data protocol;
determines that information in the header is compatible with the
second trading participant; modifies the header including stripping
unneeded information from the header and altering content of the
header; and digitally signs the modified header.
7. The system of claim 3, wherein the first data conforms to a
uniform format understood by the process management platform.
8. The system of claim 3, wherein the process management platform
is configured to process at least one proprietary transaction
definition format.
9. A method comprising: accessing, by a computer system in
communication with a storage medium storing a plurality of data
protocols, first data having a first data protocol from a trading
participant of a business, wherein the first data defines
individual business functions required for the first trading
participant; determining that the plurality of data protocols
includes the first data protocol using a virtual trading
participant as a testing recipient for the first data;
communicating an acceptance of the first data protocol to the first
trading participant; and processing transaction using the first
data.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first data comprises first
transaction messages having a first data format in the first data
protocol.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the processing the transaction
further comprises: determining, by a process management platform
configured to manage a flow of the first transaction messages in
the first data and monitor the first transaction messages, a second
trading participant to satisfy the first data; identifying a second
data protocol for conducting the transactions used by the second
trading participant; generating second data comprising second
transaction messages having a second data format from the first
data, wherein the second transaction messages are in accordance
with the second data protocol; and transmitting the second data to
the second trading participant, wherein the first and second
trading participants conduct the transactions in accordance with
their respective protocols for conducting transactions.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the accessing the first data
further comprises: obtaining the first data by the process
management platform at a process gateway, and wherein the process
gateway interfaces with at least one legacy system of one or both
of the first trading participant and the second trading
participant.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising: broadcasting the
first data to the second trading participant, wherein the process
management platform is configured to utilize at least one open
protocol that defines a business function.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second data protocol
differs from the first data protocol, and wherein the first
transaction messages comprise an unencrypted header and encrypted
payload data compatible with the first data format, and wherein the
method further comprises: decrypting the encrypted payload data and
subsequently re-encrypting the decrypted payload data according to
the second data format in accordance with the second data protocol;
determining that information in the header is compatible with the
second trading participant; modifying the header including
stripping unneeded information from the header and altering content
of the header; and digitally signing the modified header.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first data conforms to a
uniform format understood by the process management platform.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the process management platform
is configured to process at least one proprietary transaction
definition format.
17. An apparatus comprising a computer and a computer readable
storage medium, the storage medium storing program code configured
to be executed by the computer to perform a method for managing
business functions, the method comprising: accessing, by a computer
system in communication with a storage medium storing a plurality
of data protocols, first data having a first data protocol from a
trading participant of a business, wherein the first data defines
individual business functions required for the first trading
participant; determining that the plurality of data protocols
includes the first data protocol using a virtual trading
participant as a testing recipient for the first data;
communicating an acceptance of the first data protocol to the first
trading participant; and processing transaction using the first
data.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first data comprises
first transaction messages having a first data format in the first
data protocol.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing the
transaction further comprises: determining, by a process management
platform configured to manage a flow of the first transaction
messages in the first data and monitor the first transaction
messages, a second trading participant to satisfy the first data;
identifying a second data protocol for conducting the transactions
used by the second trading participant; generating second data
comprising second transaction messages having a second data format
from the first data, wherein the second transaction messages are in
accordance with the second data protocol; and transmitting the
second data to the second trading participant, wherein the first
and second trading participants conduct the transactions in
accordance with their respective protocols for conducting
transactions.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second data protocol
differs from the first data protocol, and wherein the first
transaction messages comprise an unencrypted header and encrypted
payload data compatible with the first data format, and wherein the
method further comprises: decrypting the encrypted payload data and
subsequently re-encrypting the decrypted payload data according to
the second data format in accordance with the second data protocol;
determining that information in the header is compatible with the
second trading participant; modifying the header including
stripping unneeded information from the header and altering content
of the header; and digitally signing the modified header.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of
application Ser. No. 14/178,009, filed Feb. 11, 2014; which is a
continuation of application Ser. No. 13/862,158, filed Apr. 12,
2013 which is now U.S. Pat. No. 8,650,116; which is a continuation
of application Ser. No. 13/475,073, filed May 18, 2012 which is now
U.S. Pat. No. 8,429,063, issued Apr. 23, 2013; which is a
continuation of application Ser. No. 12/498,578, filed Jul. 7,
2009, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 8,229,836, issued Jul. 24, 2012;
which is a divisional application of application Ser. No.
09/757,771, filed Jan. 9, 2001, which is now U.S. Pat. No.
7,562,041, issued Jul. 14, 2009; all of which are incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to the field of computer software and
hardware. More specifically the invention relates to a method and
apparatus for managing business processes.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] In online financial transactions, customers search for and
purchase products and services through electronic communications
with online merchants over electronic networks, such as the
Internet. During the course of these transactions, customers may
provide payment in various ways including, for example, credit
cards, electronic fund transfers, and other payment techniques
offered by payment providers.
[0004] In the current competitive business conditions,
manufacturers and sellers of products seek to be as cost
competitive as possible, while providing quick delivery of products
that often must be customized. Thus, modern businesses desire a
mechanism for obtaining the best prices, delivery dates and quality
from their suppliers and distributors in turn. In the past sellers
purchased the items they needed from suppliers by calling a number
of suppliers to determine cost and delivery dates. This process is
shown in FIG. 1, where supply chain partner 100 communicates with
supply chain partner 110 individually by means of a phone or fax
line 120. This method of procurement often proves to be time
consuming and expensive. In order to become more competitive,
sellers began to automate their supply chains in order to derive
cost savings and better serve customers by improving the efficiency
of the transactions between various supply chain partners. For
reasons of implementation cost, only the largest companies in the
supply chain process could automate transactions between supply
chain partners. Typically such supply chain partners were only able
to automate simple transactions such as purchase orders, invoices
and payments. Moreover, such automation was done by automating the
transaction process one individual company at a time. For example,
if a company wanted to automate the process of purchasing products
from a number of different suppliers, current system typically
require the company to setup a mechanism for purchasing products
with each individual supplier.
[0005] Electronic Data Interchanges:
[0006] Electronic data interchanges (EDI) have been used in the
past by some companies to exchange transaction information with
their supply chain partners. EDI is a standard format for
exchanging business data, developed by the Data Interchange
Standards Association and designated as American National Standards
Institute standard X12. An EDI message contains a string of data
elements, each of which represents one fact, such as a price or
product model number, separated by a delimiter or character used to
separate data items. The entire string is called a data segment and
one or more data segments framed by a header and trailer form a
transaction set, which is the EDI unit of transmission. A
transaction set often consists of what would usually be contained
in a typical business document or form. A problem with existing EDI
solutions is that there are large set up and maintenance costs
associated with EDI. For example, each company that wishes to
communicate with another company using EDI must setup a connection
with that company in order to establish an EDI connection to that
company. Thus, if a company has 100 suppliers and 50 distributors,
the company is required to setup 150 different EDI interfaces. This
process is cumbersome and requires a prohibitive number of
resources in order to adequately implement. In addition, EDI
messages are static, batch messages that do not permit interactive
business processes to be conducted in real time. EDI protocols do
not establish a standard mechanism for linking a series of messages
in a predefined logical workflow sequence over a period of time in
order to implement a business process. Thus, there is a need for a
system that requires substantially less resources for a company to
implement, and that permits business processes comprised of
multiple messages linked by a logical workflow to be managed over
time. For example, there is a need for a cost effective way for
supply chain partners to communicate and exchange business
transaction information, and to structure processes using this
information that are linked by workflows and managed over time. The
lack of standardized electronic business interfaces in supply
chains has created many difficulties for manufacturers,
distributors, resellers, and end-users who are attempting to
automate business transactions. The problem is particularly acute
for supply chain partners trying to use the Internet as a
business-to-business commerce tool. For example, some of the
problems typically encountered include the following:
[0007] 1) Manufacturers use complex processes to determine
inventory levels and availability across the supply chain at any
point in time that are often little more than guesses because there
is no agreement on how part numbers are defined or how to make
inventory inquiries of suppliers through a standard interface.
[0008] 2) Manufacturers have no automated way of comparing vendor
prices and availability.
[0009] 3) Distributors, who provide technical support to their
resellers on thousands of items, are concerned with a lack of
product information standards that makes the distribution of such
information expensive and difficult.
[0010] 4) Resellers must maintain different ordering and return
procedures and system interfaces to each distributor and direct
manufacturer with whom they trade.
[0011] 5) End-users have no way of ordering items or confirming
orders and delivery dates through uniform templates and must revert
to older procedures such as calling suppliers with orders.
[0012] 6) None of the users has any way of checking for errors that
may be present in their requests or in the responses to their
requests.
[0013] Currently available transaction systems do not fully
automate business transactions and do not facilitate transactions
between multiple parties. The time and cost wasted by the need for
manual exchange of business information and transactions by phone
and fax results in lost or incorrect orders, late deliveries, high
clerical and labor costs, excessive buffer and obsolete inventory
costs, and low customer loyalty and retention. Moreover, currently
available transaction systems only permit the transmission and
exchange of static batch messages.
[0014] An effort has been made to overcome these problems by
several organizations in different industries. An example of such
an organization is RosettaNet.TM., an independent, self-funded,
non-profit consortium formed in 1998 for the development of supply
chain automation standards and guidelines. These standards serve to
align processes between supply chain partners for automatic,
system-to-system exchange of business information and transactions,
with a number of transactions between a first partner and a second
partner. RosettaNet.TM. functions through business processes known
in RosettaNet.TM. parlance as PIPs (Partner Interface Process),
where a PIP is a sequence of standardized transactions to perform a
particular business function, such as a product inquiry or a
purchase. The PIPs specify the activities for each trading
participant and allow for multiple transactions between one partner
and another linked together in sequence.
[0015] PIPs are designed to be performed in real time. In order to
use the RosettaNet.TM. system, a business process is modeled in
terms of a PIP, which is defined in two data dictionaries that
provide technical specifications for products and business
properties, including transaction properties, supply partner data
and most business related activities. For example, a PIP may
include all of the information needed to introduce a new product to
another partner, gain approval and update the partner's system with
the new product information.
[0016] Many PIPs require trading partners to exchange multiple
messages in a defined sequence within specified time limits, with
the combined interactive message exchanges comprising a complete
business process. These PIPs and similar business process standards
are different from EDI messages in that they are not simply static,
one-time batch messages, but instead comprise a sequence of
messages linked by a logical workflow and occurring in a predefined
sequence over a period of time. This linkage of multiple
interactive messages over a period of time enables complex business
processes to be concluded between parties that cannot be
accomplished through transmission of a single message or even a
sequence of messages not linked by a logical workflow.
[0017] RosettaNet.TM., while an advance, suffers from two major
deficiencies. First, RosettaNet.TM. only provides for one-to-one
type transactions. There is no provision for transactions involving
more than two parties. Consequently, there is no way to compare
suppliers or integrate a number of dependent transactions with
different suppliers. RosettaNet.TM. does not provide a way for a
seller to gain access to real time information on the status of the
seller's entire supply chain. RosettaNet.TM. does not provide for
the deployment of PIPs throughout an entire supply chain, with the
same PIPS used by all of the supply partners. Moreover,
RosettaNet.TM. does not facilitate the exchange of data between the
various members of the supply chain. There is also a need to avoid
the intensive, custom efforts associated with multiple connections
to individual computer systems. Second, RosettaNet.TM. does not
provide a mechanism for monitoring and managing the business
processes over time to insure that a business process is
successfully completed between trading partners.
[0018] Due to the limitations of current systems, there is a need
for an electronic business system that facilitates the
implementation of supply chain processes through the exchange of
messages linked in a logical workflow and occurring over time.
There is a need for a single, seamless, process infrastructure to
manage these messages and processes and the ability to integrate
those processes with other trading participants. There is also a
need to avoid the intensive, custom efforts associated with
multiple connections to individual computer systems.
SUMMARY
[0019] One embodiment of the invention provides a framework for
facilitating the management of business processes between multiple
trading participants. To utilize the infrastructure each trading
participant connects to a centralized process management platform.
Once a trading participant connects to the centralized process
management platform the trading participant becomes a member of an
electronic trading community. Members of the electronic trading
community may utilize the process management platform as a conduit
for sending and receiving over a period of time sequences of
logically connected messages comprising business processes. Thus,
the process management platform acts as an intermediary for each of
the parties involved in a particular transaction. In one embodiment
of the invention trading participants connect to the process
management platform through process gateways. Each process gateway
provides an interface for connecting to the process management
platform and may be located at a facility associated with the
trading participant or at a facility associated with the process
management platform.
[0020] The process management platform is configured to provides a
multiplicity of services and ensure that business process data and
messages are transmitted from one trading participant to another in
a uniform format that is understood by each trading participant
involved in the transaction. If different trading participants
utilize inconsistent formats, the process management platform
converts the business process data or message to a format
understood by the trading participant. If the business process data
or message sent from one trading participant to another is already
in the appropriate format (e.g., the data originated in a
designated standard or was converted at the process gateway), the
business process data or message is processed by the process
management platform and forwarded to the receiving trading
participant.
[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, business process data
comprises a sequence of messages linked by a predefined workflow
that collectively define the specifics of a particular business
process. For example, business process data may utilize an open
standard such as RosettaNet.TM. for defining common business
processes. If the RosettaNet.TM. architecture is utilized, business
process data is defined via partner interface process (PIP)
guidelines. The PIP guidelines provide a uniform protocol for
communicating information through a sequence of messages exchanged
over a period of time to effectuate a particular business process.
However, it is important to note that the invention contemplates
the use of other formats and/or protocols for defining and
effectuating business processes. For example, the process
management platform may be configured to process proprietary
transaction definition formats or any other format that defines a
business process and/or transactions. Thus an embodiment of the
invention provides a method and apparatus for facilitating business
processes where business process data or messages are obtained from
a trading participant, processed by a process management platform,
and transmitted to a recipient by the process management platform.
The recipient may, in turn, respond by providing business process
data or messages comprising part of the sequence of messages that
collectively comprise a business process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates how one trading participant may transmit
electronic data from one trading participant to another.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates the process for processing business
process data in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates the infrastructure utilized to provide
business process services to members of the electronic trading
community.
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates the structural components of a trading
participant in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates the association a virtual trading
participant has with the process management system in accordance
with one embodiment of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates the overall process flow of process
management platform 318 and shows the relationship between the
services provided by Process Service Module 316.
[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates the validation and routing performed by
one embodiment of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates the relationship of the archive data
service to the data stores in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] An embodiment of the invention comprises a method and
apparatus for facilitating business processes. In the following
description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a
more thorough description of embodiments of the invention. It will
be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the invention
may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well known features have not been described in detail so
as not to obscure the invention.
[0031] Business Model Overview:
[0032] One embodiment of the invention provides a framework for
facilitating the management of business processes between multiple
trading participants. To utilize the infrastructure each trading
participant connects to a centralized process management platform.
Once a trading participant connects to the centralized process
management platform the trading participant becomes a member of an
electronic trading community. Members of the electronic trading
community may utilize the process management platform as a conduit
for sending and receiving business process data and messages that
comprise business processes. Thus, the process management platform
acts as an intermediary for each of the parties involved in a
particular transaction. In one embodiment of the invention trading
participants connect to the process management platform through
process gateways. Each process gateways provide an interface for
connecting to the process management platform and may be located at
a facility associated with the trading participant or at a facility
associated with the process management platform.
[0033] The process management platform is configured to provides a
multiplicity of services and ensure that business process data is
transmitted from one trading participant to another in a uniform
format that is understood by each trading participant involved in
the transaction and that facilitates the successful completion of
the desired business process. If different trading participants
utilize inconsistent formats, the process management platform
converts the business process data to a format understood by the
trading participant. If the business process data sent from one
trading participant to another is already in the appropriate format
(e.g., the data originated in a designated standard or was
converted at the process gateway), the business process data is
processed by the process management platform and forwarded to the
receiving trading participant.
[0034] In one embodiment of the invention, business process data
comprises a sequence of messages linked by a predefined workflow
and collectively defining a particular business process. For
example, business process data may utilize an open standard such as
RosettaNet.TM. for defining common business processes. If the
RosettaNet.TM. architecture is utilized, business process data is
defined via partner interface process (PIP) guidelines. The PIP
guidelines provide a uniform protocol for communicating messages in
a predefined sequence over time in order to enable the completion
of a business process. However, it is important to note that the
invention contemplates the use of other formats and/or protocols
for defining business processes. For example, the process
management platform may be configured to process proprietary
process definition formats or any other format that defines a
business process.
[0035] Business Process Data:
[0036] Business process data, as it is utilized by one embodiment
of the invention comprises a sequence of messages linked by a
predefined workflow and exchanged over a predefined period of time
that collectively define the specific components and transactions
required to enable a business process. Thus, business process data
provides the information needed to enable system-to system
automation of supply chain processes, including catalog management,
ordering, inventory management, customer service and support, and
any other business process companies have a need to perform. Each
business process defines the type of messages that will be sent and
received during the course of a particular business transaction.
For example, when a business process message is sent, there may be
a defined response that will be forthcoming within a specific
period of time. Once such a response is received a reply to that
response may be transmitted within a specified period of time.
Thus, the parameters of the business process may be defined in
accordance with a set of business rules and the messages and
responses sent back and for the between the trading participants
are closely associated with the business rules. Each set of
business process messages is therefore linked by a logical workflow
that occurs over time.
[0037] There may be different types of business process data where
each type defines a different business process. For example, in one
embodiment of the invention different processes are defined via
Partner Interface Processes (PIPs) as they are implemented in
accordance with the RosettaNet.TM. implementation framework. An
example of the RosettaNet.TM. framework can be found in the
RosettaNet.TM. Implementation Framework Specification, Version 1.1
which is incorporated herein by reference. However, the invention
contemplates the utilization of other such frameworks and may be
implemented via any framework that defines a particular business
process.
[0038] In one embodiment of the invention, business process data is
transmitted in discrete packages where each package or a sequence
of packages represents a component or aspects of the business
process. For example, PIPs may be encapsulated in TCP/IP packets
and sent through the process management platform for handling. In
one embodiment, the business process data comprises a sequence of
messages that collectively comprise a RosettaNet.TM. PIP, where
each PIP provides common business/data models and documents
enabling developers to implement a common interface. However,
trading participant are not required to utilize the RosettaNet.TM.
framework and may instead send data in a different format (e.g.,
one derived by a legacy system). In such instances, the process
gateway or the process management platform converts the business
data to a format understood by the recipient before transmitting
the data to another trading participant. Such conversions are
transparent to the user and thereby the system allows clients with
legacy systems to coexist with clients having system subscribing to
the RosettaNet.TM. standard.
[0039] The following table comprises a list of sample PIPs that the
system may utilize in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention.
[0040] The invention contemplates the use of any of the defined
PIPs and/or any other business process that is defined with a set
of specific parameters. Some further examples of PIPs can be found
in section A. For example, the invention contemplates the use of
each of the PIPs published in the RosettaNet PIP Development
Schedule which is incorporated herein by reference. PIP 1A2, for
example, contains information required to maintain account status
between trading participants. Maintenance of account information
includes such activities as updating ship-to and bill-to locations
as well as updating relationships between ship-to and bill-to
address. The Partner Interface Process supports both customer and
vendor account types. For example, assume that trading participant
ABC purchases products from trading participant Acme. If trading
participant ABC decides to open a new warehouse, ABC would initiate
PIP 1A2 to report the new warehouse location to trading participant
Acme. Acme would update the customer account in their system with
the new location and provide an acknowledgment back to trading
participant ABC. Conversely, Acme may add a new address to which
purchase orders should be sent. As a result, Acme would use PIP 1A2
to advise ABC of this new address. ABC would add the purchase order
address to the vendor account and acknowledge the addition(s) back
to Acme.
[0041] In one embodiment, PIP 1A2 allows trading participants to
determine what, if any, of the updated account information is
accepted and reflected in their system. Thus, referencing the
example, ABC might report the new warehouse location and a new
bill-to location to Acme.
[0042] However, Acme must review the updates and decide which
information to change in their system. If Acme finds that ABCs new
bill-to location already exists in their system, then Acme would
reject that portion of the request and notify ABC of the rejection.
PIP 1A2 allows an Account Provider to accept part of a request and
reject part of a request, so that the recipient could reject the
bill-to, but accept the warehouse location within the same PIP.
This scenario is one example of the type of business processes that
may be defined by PIPs. However, the system may operate upon any
other type of business process data or messages that defines a
business process. Business processes that may be defined are not
limited to vendors and customers, but could be defined between and
among a variety of types of trading participants.
[0043] FIG. 2 illustrates the process for processing business
process data in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
The process begins at step 200 when a trading participant
establishes an interface with the process management platform. Each
trading participant may establish such connectivity by connecting
new or existing business systems to a process gateway. A trading
participant may, for example, connect a legacy system to the
process gateway and utilize the process management platform to
forward business process data to another trading participant in a
uniform format.
[0044] In one embodiment of the invention, once a process gateway
provides connectivity to the trading participant, an interface for
transmitting business processes between multiple trading partners
is established. This business process interface comprises a conduit
for communicating business process messages and data from one
trading participant to one or many other trading participants in
order to enable business processes. Once the trading participant
has access to the business process interface, the process
management platform may obtain business process data from one or
more trading participants (e.g., at step 202) in order to
effectuate business processes with those trading participant(s).
Each trading participant may be referred to as a trading
participant. A trading participant is may comprise any type of
business entity that has a need for communicating business process
data with another business entity.
[0045] At step 204, the process management platform processes the
business process data. In one embodiment of the invention, the
process management platform processes the business process data by
evaluating the relevant portions of the business process data and
forwarding it to the intended recipient (e.g., step 206). The
process management platform also provides other services that are
discussed in further detail below. However, in an embodiment of the
invention the process management platform is extensible and may
therefore act as an intermediary to facilitate any type of
transaction or process carried out between two or more parties. For
example, the process management platform may be combined multiple
business processes to formulate a metaprocess. A metaprocess is
combination of one or more processes that is formulated at the
process management platform. The process management platform may be
distributed across multiple locations and or hardware devices and
utilize redundant system that ensure the maximum amount of
uptime.
[0046] System Infrastructure:
[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates the infrastructure utilized to provide
business process services to members of the electronic trading
community in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The
electronic trading community is comprised of multiple trading
participants 300-314. A trading participant becomes a member of the
electronic trading community when the trading participant connects
to process management platform 318.
[0048] Trading participants that are not connected to process
management platform 318 are isolated from member trading
participants 300-314 and not able to exchange electronic business
process data or messages with member trading participants 300-314.
For example, trading participant 324 cannot electronically exchange
data with member trading participants 300-314. Therefore trading
participant 324 must utilize traditional communication mechanisms
such as facsimile, telephone, or EDI to communicate with other
trading participants in electronic form, and cannot utilize the
business process interface to exchange messages in a predefined
sequence over a period of time in order to enable a business
process.
[0049] If trading participant 324 wishes to establish an electronic
communication link with each member trading participant 300-314,
trading participant 324 is required to establish individual
connections with each trading participant 300-314. However, if
trading participant 324 were to join the electronic trading
community, trading participant would be able to communicate with
trading participants 300-314.
[0050] Trading Participants:
[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates the structural components of a trading
participant in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
Trading participant 300 comprises an entity, organization,
business, or individual having a need to conduct business processes
with other trading participants 302-314. For example, trading
participant 300 may be an entity that purchases, sells, supplies,
and/or distributes products and/or services. In other instances a
trading participant represents any party involved in a business
process.
[0052] Trading participant 300 may comprise multiple network nodes
400-418 or it may comprise a single network node such as node 410.
Each node represents an individual computer or a network of
interconnected computers configured to transmit and receive
business process data. Nodes 400-418 may communicate with one
another across any type of interconnection fabric 420. In one
embodiment the invention contemplates the use of various types of
communication interconnects. For example, embodiments of the
invention may transmit data from one node to another via any type
of interconnection fabric that provides a mechanism for
transmitting and/or receiving data. In one or more embodiments of
the invention, data is sent across an interconnection fabric that
comprises any of multiple suitable communication paths for carrying
data between multiple computational devices. The interconnect
fabric may be, for example, a local area network, a wide area
network, a virtual private network (VPN), the Internet, an
Intranet, a wireless network, or any other type of interconnect
capable of sending data from one device to another. The
interconnect fabric may be implemented with a physical medium such
as a wire or fiber optic cable, or it may be implemented in a
wireless environment using microwave signals, light signals, or any
other type of wireless communication mechanism.
[0053] Process Gateways:
[0054] Referring back to FIG. 3, trading participant 300 is
configured to transmit business process data to process gateway
322. Process gateway 322 is associated with trading participant 300
(or any other trading participant sending or receiving data) and
may be at a location physically or virtually associated with the
trading participant to which the gateway corresponds. Business
process data sent from each trading participant is transmitted
through a process gateway across an interconnection fabric to the
process management platform. Each process gateway may also provide
encryption/decryption services so as to ensure that business
process data sent to and from the process management platform
remains entirely confidential and only known to the parties
actually involved in the business process. For example, if one
trading participant wishes to transmit data through the process
management platform in a secure manner to another trading
participant, the payload data may be encrypted at the process
gateway. The header associated with the business process data is,
however, not encrypted so that the process management platform may
utilize the header to determine where to route the data and what
management services may be required to manage and enable the
successful completion of the business process.
[0055] Process Management Platform:
[0056] Process management platform 318 comprises a system
configured to evaluate and/or route business process data. The
process management platform has access to process service module
316. Process service module 316 is configured to perform a variety
of different operations on the business process data. However, if
no such operations are desired, the business process data if
forwarded by process manager 320 to the appropriate trading party.
For example, if trading participant 320 transmits appropriately
formatted business process data to process management platform 318,
process management platform will provide the business process data
to process manager 320. Otherwise, process manager 320 evaluates
the business process data, determines which trading participant is
the intended recipient and forwards the business process data to
the receiving party. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention the
process manager acts as a switch for routing business process
data.
[0057] The process manager, may for example, analyze the header of
packets comprising the business process data, determine that the
information contained therein is compatible with the intended
recipient and forward to the business process data to the intended
recipient on behalf of the initiating supply chains
participant.
[0058] The process management platform provides many benefits to
the trading participants connected to the platform. For example,
process management platform 318 eliminates the need for a series of
potentially expensive and time-consuming one-to-one transactions or
data exchanges. In addition, process management platform 318
provides centralized management, reporting and maintenance services
to support business processes. For example, where the business
process standard used by the trading participants specifies a
sequence of messages that must be exchanged within a specified time
period in order to complete a business process, the process
management platform can identify when a required message has not
been sent within the required time frame and can notify the trading
participants or take other actions to facilitate the successful
completion of the business process. The business process management
platform can also troubleshoot other problems with messages between
trading participants and take corrective action in real time to
prevent or minimize delays or disruptions in the completion of the
desired business process.
[0059] The experience gained by having one entity administer a
central process management platform will help ensure connectivity
and flawless operation. In addition, that entity is ideally suited
to provide assistance to new users. A process management platform
facilitates the deployment of business process data throughout an
entire supply chain, with the same (or a subset of) business
processes being used by all of the supply partners. Furthermore,
the addition of each trading participant to the process management
platform makes the process management platform more valuable to all
of the companies in the supply chain. For example, each trading
participant provides another company with which currently connected
trading participants may send and receive data in order to
effectuate business processes. Also, the use of a process
management platform facilitates the rapid addition or replacement
of supply chain partners. Thus, process management platform 318
acts as the intermediary through which business process data
transmitted from one trading participant to another is sent.
[0060] In one embodiment of the invention, process management
platform comprises service module 316 and process manager 320.
Process service module 316 is configured to provide services to the
trading participants. Each of these services is designed to
facilitate communication about current or future business
transactions. Process manager 320 provides a physical interface
between trading participants and hosts the services of process
service module 316. Functions allocated to process management
platform 318 may be performed at a single central location, or may
be distributed across multiple sites and/or computational
devices.
[0061] If the services are distributed, an interconnection fabric
(e.g., the Internet) can be used to communicate between the
services and devices as required. These software and hardware
solutions define the electronic trading community, which implements
communication using a uniform transaction format. For example, in
one embodiment of the invention, the electronic trading community
utilizes RosettaNet.TM. to impose efficiency on the business
process model. However, an embodiment of the invention contemplates
the utilization of other open or proprietary protocols that define
business processes. Thus, the present invention encompasses
additional enterprise activities that fall outside the scope of the
RosettaNet.TM. model. For example, the process management platform
may offer extensions to the RosettaNet.TM. model and/or vary the
contents of PIPs implemented using the RosettaNet.TM. model.
[0062] Many business processes are currently performed with
propriety hardware and software tools or without any automation at
all. The process management platform provides a centralized
mechanism for automating such business processes and provides
access to each party involved in the transaction through an
interconnection fabric such as the Web. Business processes such as
product configuration, sales reporting, transportation and
distribution, marketing information management, collaborative
forecasting, and price protection can all be automated using an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0063] The following services are described herein as examples of
the functions that may be performed by process service module 316:
business process data routing, business process data translation
and conversion, broadcast to multiple trading participants,
archiving of data, real-time troubleshooting and correction of
problems that might otherwise prevent or delay completion of the
desired business process, transaction evaluation and analysis
reporting, directory services, automatic negotiation of trading
participant agreements, and automatic client billing services.
However, it is important to note that embodiments of the invention
may be utilized to implement other business processes. For example,
process management platform 318 may implement various aspects or
extensions of the RosettaNet.TM. model and/or similar business
process definition protocols.
[0064] Thus, while the following examples describes certain
services, infrastructure, and processes that support the electronic
trading community described herein, it will be clear to one of
ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not limited to the
services or protocols used as examples of the present invention.
RosettaNet.TM., for example, facilitates the functions performed by
the present invention, but the invention is not limited by or to
the RosettaNet.TM. protocol. Any protocol standard designed to
facilitate the enablement of business processes through the
communication and management of a sequence of messages between
businesses over time would meet the requirements of a
communications protocol that may be managed by the process
management platform. An embodiment of the invention comprises a
virtually centralize resource of services for trading participants
which facilitates their involvement in the electronic trading
community.
[0065] FIG. 6 illustrates the overall process flow of the process
management platform and shows the relationship between the services
provided by the process service module in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention. Process module 320 begins processing
when business process data is received at process management
platform 318 and passed to process module 320. When processing is
complete, process service module 316 transmits the message via
process manager 320. At step 600, the business process data is
identified as a received message. The business process data is
tested for validity at step 605 by examining its header and error
correction information. The business process data may also be
authenticated at step 605 to verify the identity of the sender. In
addition, if the message encapsulating the business process data
contains one or more digital signatures then those signatures may
be verified at step 605. If the message is invalid, it passes to
error processing function 610. Alternatively, if the message is
repairable it continues in the processing chain. If the message is
unrecoverable, it is logged by error handling 610 and process
management platform 318 waits for the next message.
[0066] Step 615 test the valid business process data message to
determine if the message requires and translation and/or
conversion. Translation and/or conversion may be required when the
sender and receiver are using incompatible systems or protocols. In
such instances, the incompatible business process data is passed to
translation service 620. Translation service 620 converts data sent
in a first protocol or format to data that conforms to a second
protocol or format. For example, if the business process data was
sent using an older RosettaNet.TM. protocol and the recipient is
configured to utilize a new RosettaNet.TM. protocol, translation
service 620 will convert the data from the first protocol into the
second protocol. When an acknowledgement or reply is sent back the
translation may be performed again so that each party involved in
the transaction can receive the data in the format understood by
that party. If the message requires decryption, translation
services 620 may also perform this function. When translation
service 620 is complete, the data is tested for a broadcast
indication at step 625.
[0067] Step 630 operates upon business process data that requires
broadcasting. Broadcasting may comprise alterations to the business
process data header, or may require process management platform 318
to transmit a plurality of copies of the business process data to
multiple trading participants, or may require process management
platform 318 to apply logic to the incoming business process data
and initiate a new or different message to multiple trading partner
participants in order to effectuate the desired business process.
Depending on the criteria specified in the business process data
and the criteria specified by the potential recipients. For
example, the business process data may contain an indication that
the data is to be broadcast to a list of suppliers that carry a
particular type of product. The supplier may respond by sending a
reply message (e.g., a price quote) to the trading participant that
initiated the connection.
[0068] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the
authenticity or origin of the message may optionally be validated
at step 631 by checking the message against a digital signature or
other type of unique identifying mechanism. If the signature or
unique identifier is not valid, the message is not routed to the
intended destination. In the event that the message is determined
to be valid, it is then forwarded to the appropriate destination
for processing.
[0069] Step 635 tests if the archiving function is enabled. If so,
then the business process data is passed to archive processing 640,
which records information on the transaction. This step is an
important part of the non-repudiation function provided by process
service module 316. When a business process message has been
archived a record is made of the transaction defined by that
business process message. Thus, archiving function provides a
record, made in the ordinary course of business, of the sequence of
messages transmitted that comprise a business process. This is an
improvement over prior transaction methods, which often utilized
additional mechanism such as the telephone, email, or fax to
memorialize a transaction.
[0070] Many trading participants use more than one method of
communication at different times during a business process or
negotiation. Using different methods of communication for various
steps in a business process may make indexing and recording of the
communications unreliable or hard to trace. By archiving business
process data in process management platform 318 a complete
electronic index and record of business processes sent between
trading participants can be maintained and made accessible.
[0071] Business process data may be examined at step 645 to see if
the data requires a listing in directory services 650. Directory
Services 650 comprises a directory of information for connecting
to, selecting, or obtain information about other trading
participants. For example, the directory may contain information on
products and/or services offered for sale, business process
standards used by trading participants, and the types of business
processes that a trading participant is capable of undertaking.
[0072] Next process service module 316 may examine the business
process data at step 655 to determine if the message requests
automatic negotiation of a business process. Automatic negotiation
660 is a service provided by process management platform 318 that
can initiate and consummate a business process without human
intervention. Using a uniform translation format such as
RosettaNet.TM. and data provided by the purchaser process service
module 316 can create a request for offers, evaluate the responses,
and "make the deal." In one embodiment of the invention, the
purchaser uses PIPs to specify to process service module 316 the
item acquisition data, technical data, and other information
required to describe the desired transaction. Automatic negotiation
660 then sends PIPs requesting offers of the specified items at the
required price, quality and quantity. Process service module 316
continues to exchange PIPs with trading participants through their
process gateways until an offer satisfying the criteria of the item
acquisition data is received. Automatic negotiation 660 then
accepts the transaction. Confirmation of the transaction is
forwarded to the trading participant initiating automatic
negotiation 660.
[0073] Another service provided by process service module 316 is
that of Transaction Evaluation and Analysis Reporting ('PEAR) 665.
TEAR 665 is a service provided to subscribing trading participants
that keeps them informed about sales and marketing trends.
Transactions passing through the present invention are evaluated
for statistical purposes comprising transaction type, pricing, and
other related information. The statistical data gathered is then
analyzed and formatted to produce market trend and forecasting
reports for interested trading participants.
[0074] When process service module completes processing the
business data the system gathers and processes the data required to
provide account service information to the trading participants
involved in the business process. This function may be performed by
accounting services 670. Following message processing and
accounting the business process data is returned by process service
module 316 to process module 320 for transmission to all trading
participants identified as recipients of the message. The following
sections detail the functions of the present invention identified
in FIG. 6.
[0075] Business Process Data Validation and Routing
[0076] The Business Process Data Validation and Routing service, in
one embodiment of the invention, provides a mechanism for trading
participants to seamlessly and reliably conduct business processes
with other trading participants--even if those other partners
change their computer systems, locations, business process data
message protocol version, or other information critical to
communications sent via the electronic trading community. The
validation and routing performed by one embodiment of the invention
to accomplish these goals is illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0077] Business process data message routing and validation begins
with the initiation of a message comprising the first step in a
business process. Messages may be in the nature of specific
transaction data, or may be a request for broadcast of service
and/or product information. Messages may also occur between process
management platform 318 and the trading participant directly, such
as a request for a new product to be advertised in the directory
service, providing process management platform 318 information on
changes to the trading participant's system, or other account
maintenance information.
[0078] Messages may be initiated by a trading participant or by
process management platform 318. For example, a trading participant
may initiate a message to propose a business process. Process
management platform 318, on the other hand, may initiate a message
to perform automatic negotiation services 660 functions. If a
trading participant initiates a transaction it may be through an
automated system interface--computer to computer--or through a
human system interface such as a Web browser.
[0079] The business process data is transmitted between trading
participants and process management platform 318 using any
interconnection fabric interface. In one embodiment of the
invention, the message is transmitted using a standard Internet
protocol such as TCP/IP. In another embodiment, the message is
transmitted via wireless protocols. As will be well understood by
those of ordinary skill in the art, the present invention performs
equally using all methods for transmitting messages between trading
participants and process management platform 318.
[0080] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the business process data
validation and routing process. In this example, trading
participant 1 (trading participant 1) initiates a message to
trading participant 2 (trading participant 2) at step 700. The
message is received by process management platform 318 and
immediately logged. This logging process, at step 710, ensures that
if a failure occurs before the message is transmitted on to its
destination, in this example trading participant 2, that it will be
available for reprocessing--ensuring reliability of the transfer
through process management platform 318. The logging of messages
received also provides information for other services in process
management platform 318 such as accounting services 670.
[0081] After logging the message, process management platform 318
validates the message (e.g., the business process data) at step
720. Message validation involves a number of tests. The first test
of step 720 includes verifying the physical transmission of the
message. This test may be performed using Cyclic Redundancy Checks
(CRC), or any other method that can be used to verify the integrity
of the message itself. Unneeded message header and tail information
is then stripped from the message, and the next validation test is
performed. The next validation test may be authentication of the
identity of the sender of message. One service provided by process
management platform 318 is to ensure authentication of the
transaction for trading participants. This capability of process
module 318 is performed in step 720. In addition, the message may
contain a digital signature. If so, the invention may validate the
signature as part of accepting the identity of the sender.
[0082] Other checks may include validating the uniform transaction
format of the message. For example, one embodiment of the invention
validates a RosettaNet.TM. message for grammar and sequence
validation.
[0083] If process management platform 318 alters a message in any
way, including correcting transmission errors using built-in error
correction information, it may be required to "sign" the message
before passing it on to its recipient.
[0084] Following validation the message is processed at step 730 in
the manner described above and illustrated in FIG. 6. When message
processing is complete, process management platform 318 transmits
the message to trading participant 2 as illustrated at step
740.
[0085] The message, converted and translated if required, is
received by trading participant 2 at step 750. Trading participant
2 typically acknowledges receipt of the message using uniform
transaction format commands. Trading participant sends this
acknowledgement to process management platform 318 at step 760.
Process management platform 318 receives an acknowledgement at step
770, and formulates an acknowledgement that can be understood by
trading participant 1 at step 780. This acknowledgment is sent at
780 and is received at step 790. When step 790 completes trading
participant 1 can be assured that its message was delivered to
trading participant 2 in a format trading participant 2 can
understand. If trading participant 2 wishes to respond to the
message it can begin a new transaction at step 700, where the two
trading participants trade roles.
[0086] Business Process Data Translation/Conversion
[0087] Another function of process management platform 318,
provided by process service module 316, is to translate or convert
message formats as required. A single message may require a number
of different conversions and translations. This poses a problem for
the trading participants. Product announcements, for example, are
very inefficient if they need to be translated into different
formats for each trading participant to which they are sent. An
embodiment of the present invention is capable of translating or
converting messages under at least the following circumstances. The
purpose of this function in one embodiment of the invention is to
normalize a message so that both sender and recipient can process
any message transparent to any differences between their respective
systems.
[0088] Encryption:
[0089] Business process data may arrive at process service module
316 encrypted. Encryption is a process by which data may be altered
so that only its intended recipient can interpret it. If a message
arrives at process service module 316 encrypted, and the intended
recipient cannot, according to its profile, process encrypted data
in the form in which the message was received then process service
module 316 can decrypt and then re-encrypt the message in a format
understandable by the recipient. Process service module 316
performs this service by managing encryption data for all
registered trading participants.
[0090] Protocol Translation:
[0091] Another form of translation service performed by process
service module 316 is to translate between different business
process data formats. For example, trading participant 1 may have a
system that uses the EDI format for exchanging business process
data. Under the present art, that trading participant cannot
electronically process orders from trading participant 2, who uses
RosettaNet.TM. if its system only understands EDI. Other examples
of uniform transactions protocols include CxML and CBL. An
embodiment of the invention provides a solution to this problem by
providing protocol translation. For instance, the process
management platform may uses table-lookup, database methods, and
other methods to seamlessly translate messages from a uniform
transaction format understood by trading participant 1 to the
format understood by trading participant 2. The information on what
transaction format or formats each trading participant understands
may be maintained by process service module 316 in a trading
participant profile database.
[0092] Protocol Version Conversion:
[0093] Another problem an embodiment of the invention solves occurs
when trading participant 1 and trading participant 2 both use the
same uniform business process protocol, but they use different
versions of that protocol. For example, RosettaNet.TM. version 1.1
and version 2.0 are very different. A trading participant using one
would not be able to seamlessly communicate transaction data with a
trading participant using the other. Another function of the
translation and conversion service is to use a table-lookup or
similar method to translate between versions of a uniform
transaction protocol. The present invention can provide this
service invisibly to the trading participants, because the
invention has available to it information on the capabilities of
each trading participant in the trading participant profile
database.
[0094] Even within a single version of a single uniform business
process format, different trading participants may have come to
different interpretations of various messages in the format. For
example using RosettaNet.TM., two trading participants both using
version 2.0 may have come to understand a different meaning for
PIP.
[0095] Legacy Systems:
[0096] Another challenge to communications sent through the
electronic trading community occurs when one trading participant
has a much older computer system than another. The two trading
participants may wish to do business electronically, but their
systems may not be able to communicate. Another function of the
translation and conversion service is to facilitate the
communication between these two trading participants. By utilizing
the process management platform, an embodiment of the invention can
easily handle the interface between a Legacy system and a modern
system, without either system being required to handle the
differences between them.
[0097] Broadcast to Multiple Trading Participants:
[0098] An embodiment of the present invention also defines the
ability to broadcast messages between trading participants. This
service is provided to allow broadcast of messages for any purpose.
In current systems, broadcasting messages is difficult because of
many considerations including trading participants using legacy
systems, using different versions of communications protocols such
as RosettaNet.TM., and lack of information on the ever-changing
types of systems used by each potential trading participant, as
detailed in the section above.
[0099] However, the ability to broadcast data is desirable because
it can facilitate business processes. For example, in one
embodiment of the present invention a trading participant may
desire to broadcast messages for a new product announcement. The
trading participant may send a message to process service module
316 instructing it to broadcast the product announcement to all
available trading participants. Process service module 316 would
then examine the profile database to determine which trading
participants are interested in such a product, and then replicate
the message, in a format acceptable to each, and "broadcast" the
announcement as instructed. The recipient trading partners would
then be able to send an acknowledgement back to process service
module 316 for routing to the initiating trading participant,
acknowledging receipt of the product announcement. The translation
and profile data known by process service module 316, as described
above, allows the present invention to provide a seamless interface
for broadcasting data to multiple trading participants.
[0100] Archive Data:
[0101] A. Transaction Archiving:
[0102] Business process archiving provides one of the present
invention's advances over existing methods of business transaction
negotiations. Because all communications comprising a business
process pass through process management platform 318 the present
invention may store the all of the messages comprising or related
to a business process in an archive data store.
[0103] FIG. 8 illustrates the relationship of the archive data
service to the data stores of the present invention. Archive
processing 865 may read transaction log 800, and may store
information in data archive 860. This data store is a repository of
all the elements of the business process, including negotiation of
terms, price, quantity, quality, item acquisition data, item
technical information, and delivery agreements.
[0104] Archiving business process data provides a record of the
"deal" to both participants. If either participant tries to
"repudiate" (break the agreement) then the other participant can
use the data stored in the data archive to prove the details of the
agreement in a legal proceeding. This information is stored by the
present invention in the form of a transaction log. Items are added
to the transaction log when received, as discussed in the
description of step 605 above. Archive data can be maintained for a
certain time interval. For example, the data may be maintained for
seven years or longer to support non-repudiation and legal
archiving needs. Data in the data archive store may be indexed to
make it more accessible.
[0105] B. Data Mining:
[0106] Business Process Data transaction information may also be
stored to support the transaction evaluation and analysis report
service. Transactions that are archived by the invention may be
"mined" by software programs to generate statistical information
useful in predicting market trends, forecasting supply and demand,
and in evaluating pricing issues. Data mining is a process by which
software programs scan databases for certain types of information,
and then manipulate that information mathematically to produce
summary information.
[0107] Transactions Evaluation and Analysis Report (TEAR):
[0108] One of the services the present invention provides to
trading participants is the ability to garner market treads from
statistical information. The present invention may monitor and
process transaction data passing through the invention's
infrastructure that is stored in transaction log 800. This
information may be processed in a way that protects the
confidential information of the trading participants, and still
provides information on market trends of interest to other trading
participants.
[0109] For example, in one embodiment of the invention transactions
evaluation and analysis reporting service 885 monitors transaction
log 800 for entries related to the price of a particular computer
hard disk drive. When transactions between trading participants
regarding price negotiations of an item matching the specification
of the particular computer hard disk drive are detected
transactions evaluation and analysis reporting service 885 copies
this entry into its own data store, transactions evaluation and
analysis reporting database 850. When a report on hard disk prices
is required, a query is run on transactions evaluation and analysis
reporting database 850 to produce information on the highest,
lowest and media price of the particular computer hard disk drive
over a particular period. This information can then be provided to
interested trading participants.
[0110] Directory Services:
[0111] In one embodiment of the invention, the invention
contemplates the use of a directory. The directory is generated by
the process management platform and comprises a collection of the
business processes each trading participant is capable of
supporting. For example, one trading participant could access the
directory in order to determine whether another trading participant
supports a particular business process. In accordance with one
embodiment of the invention the directory may be accessed via a web
based interface (or any other type of client interface).
[0112] In one embodiment of the invention the directory is
generated by a service of process management platform 316.
Directory services 650 comprise a collection of the business
processes each trading participant is capable of supporting. For
example, one trading participant could access the directory in
order to determine whether another trading participant supports a
particular business process.
[0113] Directory services 650 may be understood as "yellow pages"
of trading participant's business processes. These yellow pages may
be implemented by the present invention as a database under the
control of the directory services function. FIG. 8 illustrates the
relationship between directory services 845 and directory services
database 830. The entries stored in directory services database 830
may include information about a trading participant's products,
services, and prices. In accordance with one embodiment of the
invention, directory services database 830 may be accessed via a
web-based interface (or any other type of client interface). The
information may also be made available to automatic negotiation
services 885 for dynamic searching.
[0114] The information stored in directory services database 830 is
provided by the trading participants via extensions to the uniform
translation format in use. In one embodiment of the invention, for
example, when a trading participant broadcasts a new product
announcement the information may also be added to the trading
participant's entry in directory services database 830 by directory
services 845, because directory services 845 may monitor
transaction log 800.
[0115] Automatic Negotiation of Trading Partner Agreements:
[0116] A feature of the present invention is the automatic
negotiation of trading participant agreements. The following table
illustrates the steps of this process under one embodiment of the
present invention. Automatic negotiation may use computer-based
transactions to perform tasks traditionally performed by manual
processes.
[0117] In a common business paradigm, a purchase of a particular
hard disk drive might proceed as shown in the left hand column of
the following table. The same transaction handled by automatic
negotiation is illustrated by the right hand column.
[0118] Manual Negotiations Automatic Negotiations
[0119] Automatic negotiation 855 may also encompasses the services
of digital certificate management. In this function, the present
invention may provide digital certificates to trading participants,
as a digital certificate authority would. It might also provide
functions to assist trading participants in validating digital
signatures by maintaining public keys of other trading participants
in their profile or directory records. The present invention can be
implemented using any form of user authentication, and is not
limited to the examples of authentication described here for
purposes of illustration of the invention.
[0120] Accounting Services:
[0121] To facilitate a trading participant's interface to the
present invention, the invention may keep data on all the business
processes it processes. This information is valuable in billing the
trading participants for services rendered by the present
invention. In addition, account services can monitor trading
participant accounts and service quality based on the transactions
recording in the transactions log. This information can be
translated into electronic client billing automating yet another
process for trading participants.
[0122] The present invention may also manage electronic fund
transfers between trading participants, acting as an escrow agent
for funds transferred during a transaction.
[0123] Virtual Trading participant:
[0124] One embodiment of the invention contemplates the
construction of a virtual trading participant (e.g., an entity
involved in an aspect of a particular business transaction). FIG. 5
illustrates the association a virtual trading participant has with
the process management system in accordance with one embodiment of
the invention. Virtual trading participant 500 provides a mechanism
for testing the connectivity and operational characteristics of a
newly or currently connected trading participant 308. For example,
in one embodiment of the invention, virtual trading participant 500
acts as a recipient for business process data transmitted by an
actual trading participant 308. Thus, trading participant 308 may
utilize virtual trading participant 500 to test the system. A
trading participant 308 may, for example, utilize virtual trading
participant 500 to determine if the data defining individual
business processes is in the uniform format understood by the
system.
[0125] If the system utilizes RosettaNet.TM. PIPS, virtual trading
participant 500 provides a mechanism for new or existing trading
participants to determine whether the format conforms to the
RosettaNet.TM. standard. As the standard evolves, trading
participants (e.g., 308) may utilize virtual trading participant
500 to ensure compatibility with an identified version of the
standard. If trading participant 308 wishes to determine if
messages being transmitted comply with a certain version of a
standard, trading participant 308 may transmit a fictional set of
business process data to virtual trading participant 500. Virtual
trading participant 500 is configured to acknowledge the data and
reply by transmitting an appropriate response.
[0126] Virtual trading participant 500 also provides a way for
trading participant 308 to determine if they are prepared to
automatically exchange the type of data required to complete a
particular business process. Moreover, in one embodiment of the
invention virtual trading participant provides a mechanism for
generating test reports and determining if process management
platform 318 is configured to archive and/or store information
about the business process data sent through the process management
platform. In one aspect of the invention, the process management
platform provides a directory of business processes. The virtual
trading participant may provide a way for trading participants to
review and/test the ability to access the directory and obtain data
about the business processes a particular trading participant is
configured to perform. Thus, the virtual trading participant
provides a feedback mechanism for determining if a particular
trading participant is ready to send, receive, and perform other
operations on business process data.
[0127] Thus, a method and apparatus for facilitating the management
of business processes is described. However, the claims and the
full scope of their equivalents define the invention.
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