Business-to-business social network

US9026631B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Erik J. Burckart · Raleigh, US
• Andrew J. Ivory · Wake Forest, US
• John F. Schumacher · White Plains, US
• Aaron K. Shook · Raleigh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 24, 2012
• Grant date: May 5, 2015
• Expiry date: Sep 28, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q50/01
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a social network. The methods involve: creating a relationship between a first entity and a second entity; setting authorization which indicates that a user of said first entity is authorized to view inventory data of said second entity; receiving a request to view first inventory data of said first entity and second inventory data of said second entity by said user; and determining whether said user is authorized to view said second inventory data. If said user is authorized: querying a first remote inventory management system of said first entity for said first inventory data and a second remote inventory management system of said second entity for said second inventory data; receiving said first and second inventory data; generating an aggregate view comprising said first and second inventory data; and providing content of said aggregate view to a client computing device of said first entity.