Patent Publication Number: US-2015088696-A1

Title: Dynamic determination of inventory protocol

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of inventory management, and more particularly to dynamic determination of inventory reservation protocols using dynamic shopper trends. Inventory management is the process of efficiently overseeing the constant flow of units into and out of an existing inventory. This process usually involves controlling the transfer in of units in order to prevent the inventory from becoming too high, or dwindling to levels that could put the operation of the company into jeopardy. Inventory management software tracks inventory levels, orders, sales and deliveries. Companies use inventory management software to avoid product overstock and outages. 
     In some current commerce scenarios, after a shopper has placed an order, the inventory to support the order is reserved (hereinafter “inventory reservation”) to ensure that the order can be properly sourced by the vendor. The need for inventory management systems to make such inventory reservations usually creates a significant performance bottle neck. One existing solution uses the assumption that stock of the ordered item will always be available, and therefore, no reservation is placed. This solution may become somewhat problematic if some items suddenly sellout. Other existing solutions call for the use of synchronous reservation calls wherein a reservation is placed once inventory availability has been confirmed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product to dynamically determine inventory reservation protocols using dynamic shopper trends. In an embodiment, a computing device receives an order request for a product. The computing device determines a threshold criteria that is associated with the product as well as an inventory reservation protocol for the order request using the determined threshold criteria. The computing device also services the order request according to the determined inventory reservation protocol. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an environment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts information transmissions between the exemplary servers and the computing device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates operational steps of a program function, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of components of the exemplary server executing the program function, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable medium(s) having computer-readable program code/instructions embodied thereon. 
     Any combination of computer-readable media may be utilized. Computer-readable media may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of a computer-readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium that is not a computer-readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
     Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object-oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on a user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
     Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the Figures.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an environment, generally designated  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Environment  100  is an electronic commerce (hereinafter “e-commerce”) environment wherein products are bought and/or sold over a network. Environment  100  includes computing device  140  and exemplary servers  110  and  130 , all interconnected via network  150 . In another embodiment, environment  100  only includes exemplary servers  110  and  130 , such as environments where product orders are placed via a call center. Network  150  can be, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, or a combination of the two, and can include wired, wireless, or fiber optic connections. In general, network  150  can be any combination of connections and protocols that will support communications between computing device  140  and exemplary servers  110  and  130 . 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, computing device  140  and exemplary servers  130  and  110  may be a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbook computer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, or any programmable electronic device capable of communicating with another programmable electronic device via network  150 . Computing device  140  is in communication with exemplary servers  110  and  130  via network  150 . 
     Computing device  140  is a computing device that is used to order products from a seller. For example, the seller can be associated with a website, such as a website hosted on exemplary server  130 . The seller may also be associated with a brick-and-mortar location, such as a call center. Computing device  140  includes user interface  142 , which allows a user of computing device  140  to interact with computing device  140 , access network  150 , and/or place an order for products from a seller, such as a seller associated with exemplary server  130 . In an embodiment, user interface  142  is a text-based, a graphics-based, a touch screen, and/or a gesture interface. In general, user interface  142  is any user interface that allows a user of computing device  140  to order products from a website that is hosted by exemplary server  130 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Exemplary server  130  is in communication with computing device  140  and exemplary server  110  via network  150 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Exemplary server  130  is a computing device that hosts e-commerce websites. Exemplary server  130  includes exemplary information store  132 , which is an information repository. Exemplary information store  132  includes exemplary information files  134 , which are files that support the e-commerce websites hosted by exemplary server  130 . In an embodiment, exemplary information files  134  include e-commerce web pages and associated product information. In other embodiments, exemplary information store  132  is included in exemplary server  130 . Exemplary server  130  receives, via network  150 , orders transmitted by computing device  140 . Exemplary server  130  transmits, via network  150 , received orders to exemplary server  130  for servicing. 
     Exemplary server  110  is in communication with computing device  140  and exemplary server  130 , via network  150 . Exemplary server  110  is an application server that provides inventory management services, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Exemplary server  110  includes inventory management system  112 , exemplary information stores  114  and  126 , and program function  124 . Inventory management system  112  includes exemplary information store  114 , which is an information repository and is in communication with program function  124 . Inventory management system  112  tracks inventory levels, orders, sales, and deliveries. Inventory management system  112  generates order confirmations. Inventory management system  112  also generates product burn rates (discussed below). Inventory management system  112  also generates product burn rates for products included in inventory data  120 . 
     Inventory management system  112  transmits, via network  150 , generated order confirmations to exemplary server  110 . Exemplary information store  114  includes inventory information files  120 . In an embodiment, inventory information files  120  include current and/or historical product sales information, such as productID, quantity sold, time of sale, and/or available quantity. In certain embodiment, productID is a stock-keeping unit. In another embodiment, inventory information files  120  include Table 1 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Quantity 
                   
                 Quantity 
               
               
                   
                 Product ID 
                 Sold 
                 Time of Sale 
                 Available 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1234 
                 20 
                 8/1/2013 0:35 
                 80 
               
               
                   
                 3456 
                 10 
                 8/1/2013 1:35 
                 90 
               
               
                   
                 5678 
                 5 
                 7/15/2013 20:35 
                 95 
               
               
                   
                 7890 
                 1 
                 7/10/2013 6:27  
                 99 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Program function  124  is in communication with inventory management system  112  and exemplary information store  126 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Exemplary information store  126  is an information repository that includes threshold files  128 . Threshold files  128  are files that are associated with a product listed in inventory information files  120  and include a threshold number and/or rate reflective of a product&#39;s popularity. In an embodiment, threshold files  128  are the rules by which product popularity is determined. For example, the threshold value for productID 1234 is ten percent (10%) of inventory per day; hence, when ten percent or more of productID 1234 is sold within a 24-hour time period, that product is “popular”. 
     In an embodiment, the threshold value is associated with website traffic. For example, a product is deemed popular, if at least a certain percentage, such as ten percent (10%), of the day&#39;s website traffic is associated with that particular product. In another embodiment, threshold rate is also associated with burn down rate, which is the rate at which a product sells out, wherein inventory management system  112  can be instructed to generate a new burn down rate for a product when it is determined that the item&#39;s website traffic increased above its threshold value. In another embodiment, the threshold value is associated with the product&#39;s burn rate. For example, a product is determined to be popular if it has a particular burn rate, such as thirty (30) items per hour. Program function  124  is software that automatically determines the proper inventory reservation protocol based on dynamic product demand trends to ensure that orders are properly serviced. Applicable inventory reservation protocols include those that require synchronous reservation calls, non-synchronous reservation calls, and no reservation calls. 
     A reservation call reserves a product for sale and/or shipment. However, reservation calls can decrease the performance of inventory management systems, such as inventory management system  112 , if a reservation call is made needlessly. For example, synchronous reservation calls require the determination of product availability prior to the generation of an order confirmation, which increases order servicing time compared to non-synchronous reservation calls, which require the generation of an order confirmation without a prior determination of product availability, which may occur later. Further, where product availability is certain, a reservation call is needless; hence, no reservation call should be made. Program function  124  determines whether an order received from exemplary server  130  requires a synchronous reservation call, non-synchronous reservation call, or no reservation call. Program function  124  determines the popularity of products listed in inventory information files  120 . 
     Program function  124  utilizes information included in threshold files  128  in order to determine product popularity (discussed above). Specifically,  FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein an order for a product is placed and serviced. Program function  124  reduce performance bottlenecks experienced by inventory management system  112  that result from servicing unnecessary inventory reservations received from exemplary server  130  by ensuring that the proper reservation protocol is placed. Concepts introduced in the following discussion of  FIG. 2  will be used further in the discussion of  FIG. 3  in the context of environment  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts information transmissions (hereinafter “transmission”) between the exemplary servers  110  and  130  and computing device  140 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, transmission  1  initiates when a user of computing device  140  visits a website hosted by exemplary server  130  and places an order for productID 1234 using user interface  142 , which transmits the order to exemplary server  130  via network  150 . Transmission  2  initiates when exemplary server  130  receives the order from computing device  140  and transmits the order to inventory management system  112  via network  150 . Program function  124  determines that an inventory reservation request was received by inventory management system  112 . 
     Program function  124  retrieves the threshold files that are associated with the products included in the order request from threshold files  128 . For example, the threshold file for productID 1234 reflects that productID 1234 is considered popular if at least twenty (20) items of the product are sold in a day. Using the information supplied in Table 1 (discussed above), program function  124  determines that as of today, Aug. 1, 2013, twenty (20) items of productID 1234 have sold. Hence, in response to the determination, program function  124  generates a synchronous reservation call for productID 124 and instructs inventory management system  112  to determine the availability of productID 1234 before transmitting an order confirmation to exemplary server  130 . 
     If inventory management system  112  determines that productID 1234 is available in a quantity sufficient to service the order request, inventory management system  112  then services the request by initiating transmission  3  by transmitting an order confirmation to exemplary server  130 . In another example, if the threshold file for productID 1234 reflects that the item is considered popular if at least thirty (30) items of the product are sold in a day, then, according to Table 1, program function  124  determines that productID 1234 is not currently considered popular. In response to the determination, program function  124  asynchronously instructs inventory management system  112  to generate and transmit an order confirmation to exemplary server  130  (transmission  3 ). 
     In yet another example, where the availability of productID 1234 will never run out, for example, because the manufacturer of the product has guaranteed to backfill any orders for productID 1234 within two (2) days, then productID 1234 will have no threshold file in threshold files  128 . If program function  124  determines that a product included in an order request has no associated threshold file, then program function  124  instructs inventory management system  112  to generate and transmit an order confirmation to exemplary server  130  via network  150 . In response to receiving the order confirmation, exemplary server  130  transmits the order confirmation to computing device  140  without making a synchronous reservation call (transmission  4 ). 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the operational steps of program function  124 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Program function  124  monitors the receipt of order requests (step  300 ). Program function  124  determines the thresholds associated with the products listed in the received order request (step  310 ). Program function  124  determines the reservation protocol (step  320 ). Program function  124  instructs inventory management system  112  to service the received order request according to the determined reservation protocol (step  330 ). 
       FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of components of exemplary server  110 , in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that  FIG. 4  provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environment may be made. 
     Exemplary server  110  includes communications fabric  402 , which provides communications between computer processor(s)  404 , memory  406 , persistent storage  408 , communications unit  410 , and input/output (I/O) interface(s)  412 . Communications fabric  402  can be implemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/or control information between processors (such as microprocessors, communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheral devices, and any other hardware components within a system. For example, communications fabric  402  can be implemented with one or more buses. 
     Memory  406  and persistent storage  408  are computer-readable storage media. In this embodiment, memory  406  includes random access memory (RAM)  414  and cache memory  416 . In general, memory  406  can include any suitable volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage media. 
     Program function  124 , inventory management system  112 , and exemplary information store  114  are stored in persistent storage  408  for execution and/or access by one or more of the respective computer processors  404  via one or more memories of memory  406 . In this embodiment, persistent storage  408  includes a magnetic hard disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetic hard disk drive, persistent storage  408  can include a solid state hard drive, a semiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any other computer-readable storage media that is capable of storing program instructions or digital information. 
     The media used by persistent storage  408  may also be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage  408 . Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, and smart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto another computer-readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage  408 . 
     Communications unit  410 , in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or devices, including resources of exemplary server  130  and computing device  140 . In these examples, communications unit  410  includes one or more network interface cards. Communications unit  410  may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communications links. Program function  124  and inventory management system  112  may be downloaded to persistent storage  408  through communications unit  410 . 
     I/O interface(s)  412  allows for input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to exemplary server  110 . For example, I/O interface  412  may provide a connection to external device(s)  418  such as a keyboard, a keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable input device. External device(s)  418  can also include portable computer-readable storage media such as, for example, thumb drives, portable optical or magnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to practice embodiments of the present invention, e.g., program function  124  and inventory management system  112 , can be stored on such portable computer-readable storage media and can be loaded onto persistent storage  408  via I/O interface(s)  412 . I/O interface(s)  412  also connects to a display  420 . Display  420  provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be, for example, a computer monitor. 
     The programs described herein are identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus the invention should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.