Exchange of article-based information between multiple enterprises

US6941184B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SAP AG · DE

Inventor

• Peter Ebert · Darmstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 2002
• Grant date: Sep 6, 2005
• Expiry date: Jun 6, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99931
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for making information available between enterprises. In one aspect, a method includes: receiving from a first enterprise multiple instances of tag-read-data for first articles including information read automatically from tags bound to the articles, article locations, and data derived from a first data processing system of the first enterprise; receiving from a second enterprise multiple instances of tag-read-data for second articles and data derived from a second data processing system of the second enterprise; using the tag-read-data to maintain virtual representatives for the articles in a virtual world, where tag-read-data received from either enterprise for a particular article is used to update the virtual representative corresponding to the article; and making available information from updated virtual representatives and from the virtual world to both the first enterprise and the second enterprise.