Patent ID: 7809676

Claim:
A computer implemented process for obtaining solutions for management of warehouse functions of a warehouse, comprising: under the control of at least one computer system configured with executable instructions, defining one or more hierarchical structured rules by at least: selecting one or more applicable criteria for each hierarchical structured rule; prioritizing the selected one or more applicable criteria; defining one or more strategies for the one or more hierarchical structured rules; defining one or more solutions for the one or more hierarchical structured rules; sequencing the defined one or more solutions; assigning the defined one or more solutions to one or more of the defined strategies; sequencing the defined one or more strategies; and assigning the defined one or more strategies to one or more of the selected one or more criteria; receiving specified attributes of a requested action; performing a hierarchical search of records of a database as a function of a hierarchical structured rule based upon the specified attributes, wherein the hierarchical structured rule comprises a prioritized criterion, a sequenced strategy assigned to the criterion, and a sequenced solution assigned to the strategy, wherein the prioritized criterion, the strategy and the solution each have a relationship with the other that involves one or more specified restrictions that are specified as a part of the hierarchical structured rule and used to complete a predetermined warehouse process and wherein the database comprises content information about a storage warehouse having physical items stored therein; and outputting a solution obtained from the database according to the specified attributes wherein said solution comprises a suggestion for performing a warehouse process involving inventory handling for the storage warehouse.