Patent ID: 8655706

Claim:
A computer device-implemented method of securing supply of an article, comprising: determining a ratio of a supply of an article to a demand for the article; comparing the ratio to a first threshold value; determining, by a processor, whether the ratio does not exceed the first threshold: upon a condition in which the ratio does not exceed the first threshold is determined to have occurred, securing an amount of the article from the supply; and upon a condition in which the ratio does exceed the first threshold is determined to have occurred comparing the ratio to a second threshold; determining, by the processor, whether the ratio does exceed the second threshold: upon a condition in which the ratio does exceed the second threshold is determined to have occurred, waiting a first amount of time before repeating the determining whether the ratio does not exceed the first threshold; and upon a condition in which the ratio does not exceeded the second threshold is determined to have occurred waiting a second amount of time before repeating the determining whether the ratio does not exceed the first threshold; comparing a current date to a predetermined cut-off date and immediately repeating the determining whether the ratio does not exceed the first threshold when the current date equals the cut-off date; and comparing a change in demand to a predetermined amount and immediately repeating the determining whether the ratio does not exceed the first threshold when the change in demand exceeds the predetermined amount, wherein the first threshold value is less than the second threshold value, the first time period is greater than the second time period, the determining whether the ratio does not exceed the first threshold comprises querying an inventory of a bank of the article and summing demand from plural demand sources using a computer device, and the securing comprises placing a purchase order.