Patent ID: 8700499
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a processor disposed proximate a supplier of a system for providing a product from the supplier to a remote customer pursuant to an open purchase order that includes a total quantity of products the supplier is to provide to the customer for a contracted period of time, wherein the open purchase order between the supplier and the customer defines an acceptable inventory range bounded by a lower and an upper limit for units of the product that the supplier provides to the customer, wherein the system includes a processing unit disposed proximate the customer and configured to maintain a product inventory count for the product representative of a number of units of the product that is maintained in inventory by the customer, the processing unit being configured to decrease the product inventory count as the customer ships out a unit of the product, and increase the product inventory count as the customer receives an additional unit of the product, wherein the processor is configured to monitor the product inventory count and detect the product inventory count approaching the lower limit, the product inventory count approaching the respective lower limit when the product inventory count falls below a notification level greater than the lower limit and between the lower limit and the upper limit, and wherein the processor is further configured to generate a shipment request to the supplier when the processor has detected the product inventory count approaching the lower limit, the processor being configured to generate the shipment request to facilitate the supplier providing the customer with one or more additional units of the product pursuant to the open purchase order and independent of a separate purchase order from the customer directed to the one or more additional units.