Patent ID: 8306838
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A machine readable medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the machine to perform a set of operations, comprising: receiving an order having a requested delivery date; selecting a plurality of possible shipping locations; calculating a shipping schedule to determine a required material availability date necessary to satisfy the requested delivery date for the order based on constraints of the plurality of possible shipping locations, wherein the constraints include product availability, operating hours and delivery date; checking a material availability date for the order for at least a subset of the plurality of possible shipping locations in a defined order of shipping locations based on at least one of cost, proximity, and operating hours, the material availability date of a location defined as the date the order is physically capable of being shipped from the location; confirming fulfillment of the order from one of the plurality of shipping locations upon determination that the material availability date is the same date as the date on which the order was received, the material availability date meets the requested delivery date taking into account transportation time, and the material availability date is within operating hours of the one shipping location; calculating a shipping schedule to determine the material availability date for the order based on a second shipping location when fulfillment is not confirmed from a first shipping location; and confirming fulfillment of the order from a second shipping location upon determination that the material availability date is the same date as the date on which the order was received, the material availability date meets the requested delivery date taking into account transportation time, and the material availability date is within operating hours of the second shipping location.