A computer-implemented method for trading a package of threads

Abstract

Trade necessary-quality yarns more efficiently with less waste. 【Solution means】This method executed by a computer is useful for the efficient trading of yarn packages (93). The server computer system (1) receives, from a spinning mill (2) having a yarn package (93), a set of measured values of yarn quality variables obtained by measuring the yarn (92) on the yarn package (93), and further information regarding the yarn package (93). A package identifier is assigned to the set of measured values and the further information, and they are stored in a database (12). The server computer system (1) receives a purchase request (71) including yarn specifications from a client computer (8). From the database (12), a set of yarn packages is searched for and obtained such that the further information matches the yarn specifications of all packages in each set. The set of yarn packages is ranked according to the set of measured values. Information (71) regarding the set of yarn packages ranked highest in the performed ranking is transmitted to the client computer (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The field of the present invention is the production of yarns, the quality determination of yarns, and the trading of yarns. In the independent patent claims, the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method and a server computer system for trading yarn packages.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method of operating a ring spinning system including a ring spinning machine having a plurality of spinning positions and a winding machine having a plurality of winding positions. The yarn spun by the spinning machine is placed on cops and transported to the winding machine. There, the yarn is wound from the cops onto larger yarn packages. The values of the yarn variables are determined by a yarn clearer during the winding process at the winding machine and stored as yarn data.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a yarn package grading system. This system includes yarn quality monitoring means such as a tension control unit provided in each unit of a drawtex processing machine for constantly monitoring data on the quality of the yarn processed in the package, inspection means for inspecting at least the weight or appearance of the packages transported by the transport means, and grading means having data on each package from the yarn quality monitoring means and data on each package from the inspection means for determining the grade of the package. The grade is used for the processing of packages in a drawtex charring machine factory.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a mobile Internet trading platform for textile fabrics, which includes an online server, an application program end that communicates and connects with the online server, a direct marketing end, and a large database that communicates and connects with the online server. The application program end is integrated with at least a supply module and a purchase module. The basic variable information of the fabric product is uploaded to the online server, and a unique two-dimensional code is generated. The purchase module is used to provide classification services, search and acquisition services, and purchase services to buyers. The direct marketing end includes an offline fabric warehouse for arranging and attaching labels. The large-scale database classifies and stores the data generated in the operation process of the platform. The online server conducts data exchange and synchronization and transmits different contents according to the trend of the data.

[0005] To compare the quality levels of one textile factory with another, a common "quality language" is needed. The globally recognized quality benchmark or quality reference in the fiber industry is Uster® STATISTICS. See Uster® NEWS BULLETIN No. 49 (November 2012) and No. 51 (October 2018). Uster® STATISTICS is a comprehensive statistical survey on the quality of fiber materials manufactured worldwide. Basically, they contain statistical data in graph form with a number of variables and percentile curves for fiber materials. The cumulative frequency display by these graphs statistically shows whether a particular fiber material exceeds or falls below the value of a particular quality variable. For example, when the percentile value is 25, it means that 25% of the fiber factories in the world manufacture products with the same or lower values of each quality variable. In contrast to the graph form, a numerical version is also available. Uster Technologies AG provides Uster® STATISTICS via the Internet (https: / / www.uster.com / value-added-services / uster-statistics / ).

[0006] Yarn is mainly purchased by textile factories and knitting factories from spinning factories. Yarn buyers (purchasers) want to efficiently procure yarn in an amount and quality suitable for use in their downstream processes. However, buyers often face numerical variables of yarn that they do not fully understand, nor do they understand the impact they have on the end use. Currently, before purchasing a large quantity of yarn packages, first a small sample of the package of a specific yarn type is purchased and an acceptance test is conducted. This is time-consuming and costly, and due to the small number of samples, it lacks reliability. The entire yarn package or lot may also be returned due to insufficient quality. Also, an order may be cancelled because the trial result is unexpected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Non-Patent Documents

[0008]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a technical infrastructure that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art and thereby promotes an efficient and more environmentally friendly transaction of yarn packages. By the method implemented on a computer and the server computer system (of the present invention), costly and time-consuming acceptance tests become obsolete. Either eliminate the acceptance test altogether or reduce the acceptance test further, so that the number of samples to be transported decreases and the amount of wasted material decreases. With this invention, the purchaser (buyer) of the yarn can accurately purchase the yarn of the required quality. Wasteful shipments of both or either of the sample of the yarn package and the entire lot of the yarn package are avoided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] These and other problems are solved by a computer-implemented method and a server computer system defined in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specifically described in the dependent claims.

[0011] The method implemented on a computer according to the present invention is intended for the transaction of yarn packages manufactured by a winding machine in at least one spinning mill. This method comprises the following steps. Receiving, by a server computer system via a global communication network, from a spinning machine that manufactured a yarn package on a winding machine, a set of measured values of at least one yarn quality variable measured by at least one sensor on the winding machine for the yarn on the yarn package, and further information regarding the yarn package; Assigning, by the server computer system, a package identifier of each yarn package to the set of measured values and the further information; Storing, in a database of the server computer system, the set of measured values, the further information, and the assigned package identifier; Saving the set of measured values, the further information, and the assigned package identifier in a database on the server computer system; A server computer system receives a purchase request including thread specifications from a client computer via a global communication network. Searching (finding) and obtaining a set of thread packages from a database using a package identifier, and further searching and obtaining a plurality of sets of thread packages in which additional information matches the thread specifications for all packages in each set of the obtained thread packages. The server computer system ranks the obtained sets of thread packages according to a set of measured values assigned to the thread packages in each set of thread packages. Transmitting information regarding the natural number of the set of thread packages with the highest rank in the performed ranking from the server computer system to the client computer via the global communication network.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the set of measured values relates to at least one variable from the following set (coefficient of variation of thread mass, coefficient of variation of thread diameter, hairiness, number of thick places, number of thin places, number of periodic thread defects, number of changes in thread count, number of foreign substances, number of joints).

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned additional information is as follows: Thread count, thread material, fiber processing system, spinning system, assumed use, available amount of thread packages, temporary availability of thread packages, price of thread packages from the set of.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the thread specifications are from the following: Thread count, thread material, fiber processing system, spinning system, assumed use, desired amount from the set of.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the database is a relational database, and the package identifier is assigned one-to-one to each set of measured values and to each of the additional information. Further, the package identifier is used as a key of the relational database.

[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the ranking is performed on an ordinal scale or a metric scale.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the rank is in the form of a value calculated from a set of measured values, in the form of a quantile or percentile assigned to a set of yarn packages, in the form of an ordinal number assigned to a set of yarn packages, in the form of a class to which a set of yarn packages is classified and is at least any one of them.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, each average value of the yarn quality variables calculated for the entire set of yarn packages is considered in the calculation of the ranking.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the natural number of the set of yarn packages with the highest rank is greater than 1 and less than the number of the set of acquired yarn packages.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, an order is sent from a client computer to a server computer system via a global communication network, and the order specifies a selected set or group of sets of yarn packages and indicates an order quantity. Upon receiving the order, the server computer system can forward the order to a spinning mill that manufactured the ordered set of yarn packages.

[0021] One embodiment of the invention further includes the following Receiving, via a global communication network, by a server computer system, a value of at least one environmental variable specific to environmental conditions at a location and time of winding of a yarn package from a spinning mill; Modifying, by the server computer system, a set of measured values to predefined environmental conditions based on the value of at least one environmental variable, creating a set of corrected values; Replacing, in the method according to the above invention, the set of measured values with the set of corrected values; Comprising.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, the yarn packages are manufactured in a plurality of spinning mills. And the method (of the invention) further comprises the following steps: Assigning, by the server computer system, a factory identifier for each spinning mill to the set of measured values and further information; Storing the assigned factory identifier in a database; Searching for and obtaining, from the database, using the factory identifier, a set of yarn packages in which each set of yarn packages is manufactured in the same spinning mill; Comprising.

[0023] The present invention further includes a server computer system comprising means for performing any of the methods according to the present invention described above.

[0024] The present invention also relates to A computer program having instructions for causing the server computer system to perform any of the methods according to the present invention described above when executed by the server computer system.

[0025] The server computer system according to the present invention is for reference of a yarn package manufactured by a yarn winding machine in at least one spinning mill. The server computer system comprises the following steps: A receiver that receives, via a global communication network, a set of measurement values for at least one yarn quality variable obtained by measuring the yarn on a yarn package with at least one sensor on a winding machine from a spinning mill that manufactures the yarn package, and that receives further information regarding the yarn package from the same spinning mill via the global communication network, A processing device that assigns a package identifier for each yarn package to the set of measurement values and the further information, A storage device (memory) that stores the set of measurement values, the further information, and the assigned package identifiers in a database, A receiver that receives, via a global communication network, a purchase request including yarn specifications from a client computer, A processing device that uses the package identifier to obtain a set of yarn packages from the database, where the above-mentioned further information matches the yarn specifications of all the packages in the obtained set of yarn packages, A processing device that ranks the obtained set of yarn packages according to the set of measurement values assigned to the yarn packages in each set of yarn packages, A transmitter that transmits, via a global communication network, information regarding at least the set of yarn packages that received the highest evaluation in the performed ranking to the client computer is provided.

[0026] The "set of measurement values" can consist of any natural number of measurement values, including one.

[0027] In this document, an "ordinal scale" is a scale of variable measurement used to simply depict the order of variables and does not represent the differences between variables. A "metric scale" is a scale of variable measurement that not only creates an order of variables but also reveals the differences between variables. The term "metric scale" can be subdivided into an "interval scale" that does not indicate a zero point and, in addition, a "ratio scale" that provides information regarding a true zero value.

[0028] In this written text, the term "yarn winder" or "winder" refers to any machine within a spinning mill that winds yarn onto a yarn package larger than a bobbin. In the ring spinning process, this is typically an independent winder. In spinning processes other than ring spinning (such as compact spinning, rotor spinning, air-jet spinning, etc.), the spun yarn is wound directly onto the yarn package on the spinning machine. Such spinning machines other than ring spinning machines shall also be referred to as "yarn winders" or "winders" in this book.

[0029] The "server computer system" used in this book can be composed of a plurality of computer hardwares that are appropriately connected to communicate with each other. Such computer hardwares do not necessarily have to be installed in the same location and may be installed dispersedly in different locations.

[0030] The "purchaser (buyer)" used in this book refers to the ultimate consumer of the yarn, such as a fabric factory or a knitting factory, or a broker who resells the yarn or transfers it to other buyers. In the latter case, the broker does not necessarily have to conduct a monetary transaction in the strict sense of purchase.

Advantages of the Invention

[0031] Promote efficient transactions of yarn packages. The buyer can make decisions based on objective quality data available not only for the samples used in the acceptance test but also for the entire lot to be procured. After the purchase request is sent, an offer is sent to the buyer within a very short time of seconds to minutes. Therefore, expensive and time-consuming acceptance tests are no longer necessary or are significantly reduced. Since all the yarn quality variables of all available yarn packages are measured and known, with this invention, it is confirmed that all purchased packages meet the quality standards. As a result, the buyer of the yarn can accurately purchase the yarn of the required quality. Wasteful shipments of both or either of the yarn package samples and the entire lot of yarn packages, as well as returns of yarn packages with insufficient quality, are avoided or significantly minimized. In this regard, this invention is environmentally considerate.

[0032] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0034] Figure 1 schematically shows a server computer system 1 according to the present invention together with its environment. The server computer system 1 is preferably implemented using cloud computing, i.e., remote shared computer resources, and is thus symbolized by a cloud in Figure 1. The server computer system 1 is connected to a plurality of spinning mills 2 via a global communication network 6 such as the World Wide Web (www). Also, the server computer system 1 is connected to a plurality of client computers 8 via a global communication network 7 such as the www, and each client computer 8 is operated by a yarn buyer. In Figure 1, for simplicity, only three spinning mills 2 and two client computers 8 are depicted, but in reality, the number of spinning mills 2 and client computers 8 can be much larger.

[0035] For communication with the spinning mills 2 and the client computers 8, the server computer system 1 is provided with appropriate communication means 11, 13. The communication means 11, 13 include hardware such as a router and software such as an application programming interface (API). These each function as one or both of a receiver and a transmitter.

[0036] The spinning machine 2 manufactures yarn 92. In the ring spinning process, the spun yarn 92 is wound onto relatively small cops 91. The cops 91 are conveyed from a ring spinning machine (not shown) to the winding machine 3. Each winding machine 3 has a number of winding positions 31. At each winding position 31, the yarn 92 is wound from a plurality of cops 91 onto a larger yarn package 93. The yarn package is usually a cross-winding bobbin. Alternatively, in a spinning process other than ring spinning, the spun yarn is wound directly onto a yarn package on the spinning machine. Such a spinning machine and the independent winding machine 3 used in ring spinning are referred to in this written description as a "yarn winding machine" or a "winding machine".

[0037] The winding machine 3 is equipped with a yarn monitoring system 4 for monitoring the properties of the yarn 92. The yarn monitoring system 4 may be designed, for example, as a yarn conditioning system having a yarn sensor 41 at each winding position 31. The yarn sensor 41 measures the value of at least one yarn quality variable of the yarn wound onto the yarn package. Each yarn sensor 41 is connected to a yarn monitoring control unit 43 via a wired or wireless data line 42. The yarn sensor 41 transmits the value of at least one measured value to the yarn monitoring control unit 43 via the data line 42. The yarn monitoring control unit 43 receives the measured value and stores it together with the relevant information for identifying the corresponding yarn package 93. A yarn cutting unit (not shown) for removing unacceptable yarn defects from the yarn 92 can be assigned to each yarn sensor 41.

[0038] Examples of yarn quality variables include the coefficient of variation of the mass of the yarn, the coefficient of variation of the diameter of the yarn, hairiness, the number of thick portions, the number of thin portions, the number of periodic yarn defects, the number of variations in the yarn count, the number of foreign objects, and the number of splices. Such yarn quality variables can be expressed both or either per unit length of the yarn 92, per unit mass of the yarn 92, and per yarn package 93. In the present invention, since the values of the yarn quality variables of the yarn wound onto the yarn package 93 are relevant, the values of those variables are stored. These values generally differ from the values of the yarn on the cop 91 by the yarn conditioning function executed by the yarn conditioning system 4.

[0039] Apart from the quality variables of the yarn, further information regarding the yarn package 93 is used for characterizing the yarn 92 on the yarn package 93. Such further information can be either or both technical and non-technical information. For example, it may include at least any one, combination, or all of the following information. · The yarn count, e.g., Ne20, Ne30, etc., · The yarn material, e.g., cotton, polyester, viscose, modal, wool, etc., · The fiber processing system, e.g., card or comber, · The spinning system, e.g., ring-spun yarn, compact yarn, rotor yarn, air-jet yarn, etc., · The intended use, e.g., knitting or weaving, · The amount of yarn 92 on the yarn package 93, e.g., 10 kg or 500 km, · The temporary availability of yarn 92, e.g., deliverable within one week or within two weeks, · The price of yarn 92, · The manufacturer of yarn 92, · The brand of the yarn.

[0040] The measured values of the yarn quality variables and the further information regarding the yarn package 93 are transmitted from each spinning mill 2 to the server computer system 1 via the global communication network 6. This data transmission is indicated by the arrow 61 in Figure 1. For this purpose, all the yarn monitoring and control units 43 of the spinning mill 2 can be connected to a cloud connector 5 that is connected to the server computer system 1 via the global communication network 6. The server computer system 1 receives the measured values for each yarn package 31 as a set of measured values.

[0041] The server computer system 1 assigns a package identifier for each yarn package 93 and a factory identifier of the spinning mill 2 that manufactured the yarn package 93 to the received set of measured values and the received further information. The package identifier is preferably assigned one-to-one to each received set of measured values and the received further information respectively. However, in some embodiments of this invention, it may be sufficient to simply assign the same package identifier to a set of measured values of a group of yarn packages 93 having similar characteristics. The spinning mill identifier is only necessary in embodiments having two or more spinning mills 2 and is not necessary in embodiments having one spinning mill.

[0042] The received set of measured values, the received additional information, the assigned package identifier, and the assigned mill identifier are stored in the database 12 on the server computer system 1.

[0043] Either or both of the spinning machine 2, the winding machine 3, and the winding position 31 may be provided with at least one ambient condition sensor (not shown) that senses the ambient conditions around the winding position 31. Examples of environmental variables measured by such environmental condition sensors include air temperature and air humidity. The values of the environmental variables measured by at least one environmental condition sensor are also transmitted from the spinning mill 2 to the server computer system 1 via the global communication network 6. The server computer system 1 may well use the measured environmental variable values to correct a received set of yarn quality variable values to a predefined environmental condition, for example, a normal state, thereby creating a set of corrected values. Such correction enables the values of the yarn quality variables measured at different locations and / or different times to be compared with each other. The set of corrected measured values, together with the additional information, is stored in the database 12 with the assigned package identifier and the assigned mill identifier, replacing or in addition to the initially received set of measured values. In the method of this embodiment, the set of corrected values replaces the set of measured values. Therefore, in this specification, unless otherwise specified, the term "measured value" may be replaced with "corrected value".

[0044] Figure 2 schematically shows tables 201, 202, and 203 of the database 12 implemented in the server computer system 1 according to the present invention. Each row 211, 212, …, 221, 222, …, 231, 232, … of tables 201, 202, 203 contains a tuple of data regarding a specific yarn package 93.

[0045] In the first column 250 of table 201 in Fig. 2(a), a package identifier that uniquely identifies each yarn package 93 is included. In the second column 260, a factory identifier that identifies the spinning factory 2 in which each package 93 was manufactured is included.

[0046] In table 202 in Fig. 2(b), the first column 250 again includes a package identifier that uniquely identifies each yarn package 93. In the columns 271, 272, … after the second column, measured values of various yarn quality variables measured for the yarn 92 on each yarn package 93 are included.

[0047] Similarly, in table 203 in Fig. 2(c), the first column 250 includes a package identifier, and the columns 281, 282, … after the second column include further information regarding each yarn package 93.

[0048] In the embodiments of Figs. 2(a) to (c), it is assumed that the package identifier is uniquely assigned to each received set of measured values and each received further information. Therefore, the package identifier in the first column 250 of each of the tables 201 to 203 functions as the primary key of the database 12. The rows 211, 221, 231 of the different tables 201 to 203 contain data related to the same yarn package 93 and are linked to each other by the package identifiers in the first column 250 of the rows 211, 221, 231.

[0049] In an alternative embodiment, other keys may be used to link the rows of the tables in database 12 to each other. For example, package identifiers that are one-to-one within the spinning mill 2 but not one-to-one across the entire database 12 may be used. In this case, two columns 250, 260 of table 201, namely the package identifier and the mill identifier, are necessary to jointly form a natural alternative key for the database 12. Other types of keys may also be possible.

[0050] Returning to FIG. 1, the buyer transmits a purchase request 71 including yarn specifications from the client computer 8 via the global communication network 7 to the server computer system 1. The purchase request 71 is received by the server computer system 1. The global communication network 7 through which the purchase request 71 is transmitted may be the same as or different from the global communication network 6 that transmits measured values of yarn quality variables with additional information.

[0051] Upon receiving the purchase request 71, the server computer system 1 searches for, retrieves, or filters a set of yarn packages from the database 12. The additional information stored in the database 12 must match the yarn specifications included in the purchase request 71 for each package 93 of the retrieved set of yarn packages. Further, in embodiments having two or more spinning mills 2, the same mill identifier must be assigned to the measured values for all of the yarn packages 93 in the group of yarn packages. That is, all of the yarn packages 93 in the group of yarn packages must be manufactured in the same spinning mill 2.

[0052] If the database 12 does not contain any set of yarn packages in which all packages match the yarn specification, a set of yarn packages whose additional information approximates the yarn specification is obtained from the database 12. A person skilled in the art knows how to find such a set of approximate yarn packages. For example, a metric may be defined in a vector space expanded by variables included in the additional information, and the distance between the variables of the additional information and the variables of the yarn specification is determined by the metric, and the scale of the distance, for example, the least squares mean, is minimized.

[0053] The server computer system 1 ranks the obtained set of yarn packages 93. This ranking is based on the set of measured values assigned to the yarn packages 93 in each set of yarn packages. This ranking can be either an ordinal scale or a metric scale.

[0054] The following shows a fictional example of ranking yarn packages. Five obtained sets of yarn packages A to E are considered, each having a yarn count of Ne32. The number 5 is merely illustrative and not limiting. In general, the server computer system 1 can obtain any natural number of sets of yarn packages from the database 12. Table 1 lists the average values of five possible yarn quality variables measured for each of the sets of yarn packages A to E.

Table 1

[0055] To each average value listed in Table 1, a percentile value indicating the position of the average value within a large population of values of the same variable is assigned. Such percentiles can be obtained from well-known USTER (registered trademark) STATISTICS, the database 12, or other aggregations of quality variable values. By definition, each percentile is included in the range from 0 to 100. The lower the percentile, the better the corresponding quality variable value compared to the basic population. Table 2 lists the percentiles a to e assigned to the average values in Table 1.

Table 2

[0056] The rank r can be calculated according to the following formula from, for example, a to e of the percentiles in Table 2.

Equation

Table 3

[0057] Ranking other than the ranking discussed above is also possible. The above formula for calculating the rank r is merely an example, and those skilled in the art can find other appropriate formulas. In ranking, only one of the yarn quality variables may be included in the process, or one or more yarn quality variables may be included in the process, and they may be combined using both or one of arithmetic operators and logical operators. The calculation of the ranking may be performed based on the percentile values shown in Table 2, or may be performed based on the directly measured variable values as shown in Table 1.

[0058] Table 3 shows an example of an alternative ranking derived from the rank r. The second rank r' in the third column is a scale with natural numbers, while the rank r is a scale with rational numbers. The second rank r' can be derived by rounding the rank r. Furthermore, it can be limited to natural numbers in a specific range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The second rank r' may be easier to visually grasp. However, such simplification involves loss of information. In the example of Table 3, the set of yarn packages B, C, and E has the same second rank value r' although the original rank values r are different.

[0059] The third rank r” in the fourth column of Table 3 corresponds to the second rank r’, but represents an integer in terms of the number of asterisks. Such an expression may be visually easier to grasp than the second rank r’. The third rank r” may also be interpreted as a classification system with five classes, and each class is labeled with the corresponding number of asterisks. Each yarn package A to E is classified into one of the classes.

[0060] The fourth rank r”’ is a measure having a percentile value indicating the position of the rank value r within a sample consisting of a set of yarn packages A to E obtained from, for example, the database 12. For example, the fourth rank where r”’ = 60 means that 60% of the sample has a rank value r that is the same as or lower than the corresponding set of yarn package B.

[0061] In Table 3, the fifth rank r”” in the sixth column simply indicates the order of the rank r, where “1” indicates the highest rank value r and “5” indicates the lowest rank value r.

[0062] The ranks r, r’, and r” are metric scales indicating the difference between values. On the other hand, the ranks r”’ and r”” are ordinal scales.

[0063] The server computer system 1 transmits, via the global communication network 7, to the buyer's client computer 8 that sent the purchase request 71, as information, the natural number of the set of the highest-ranked yarn packages 93 in the performed ranking. This transmission is indicated by the arrow 72 in FIG. 1. The natural number of the set of the highest-ranked yarn packages is preferably greater than 1 and less than the number of the set of the (searched and) obtained yarn packages. Thus, by the ranking, the server computer system 1 performs quality filtering on the set of the obtained yarn packages 93. The buyer 8 receives only information regarding the set of the higher-ranked yarn packages 93. The lower-ranked set of yarn packages 93, i.e., the set of low-quality yarn packages 93, is excluded by not being transmitted from the set of the obtained yarn packages 93 to the buyer 8.

[0064] Figure 3 shows an example of a user interface 300 output by the client computer 8 to the buyer on an output device connected to the client computer 8, such as a display screen. At least part of the information displayed in the user interface 300 is based on the information transmitted from the server computer system 1 to the client computer 8. In the example of FIG. 3, the user interface 300 is divided into three areas 301 to 303.

[0065] The first area 301 is for important inputs by the buyer. Such mandatory inputs relate to the desired yarn characteristics, i.e., yarn specifications, and are preferably submitted together with the purchase request 71. These overlap or match the further information stored in the database 12 for each yarn package 93. These include, for example, at least any of the following. · Yarn count 311, such as Ne20, Ne30, etc., · Yarn material 312, such as cotton, polyester, viscose, modal, wool, etc., · Fiber processing system 313, such as card or comber, · Spinning system 314, such as ring-spun yarn, compact yarn, rotor yarn, air-jet yarn, etc., · Intended use 315, such as knitting or weaving, · Desired amount of yarn 316, such as 100 kg or 5000 km.

[0066] The second area 302 of the user interface 300 is for further inputs by the buyer. Such further inputs are targeted at further information about the desired yarn. These can be submitted both with the purchase request 71 and / or after receiving information about the highest-ranked yarn package 93. These include, for example, at least any of the following. · Tentative availability of yarn 92, such as deliverable within one week or within two weeks, etc., · Desired price of yarn 92, such as $0 to $5 per kg, $5 to $10 per kg, etc., · Supplier evaluation 323, for example, a five - level evaluation, · Preferred yarn suppliers 324, · Preferred yarn brands 325.

[0067] The third region 303 of the user interface 300 is for output to the buyer. The output is sent from the server computer system 1 to the client computer 8 via the global communication network 7, and the transmission is indicated by the arrow 72 in FIG. 1.

[0068] The main output includes information 331 regarding the natural numbers of the set of yarn packages A, D, B, E that obtained the highest ranks in the performed ranking. In the example of FIG. 3, the natural number is 4. The number 4 is merely illustrative and in no way limiting. Generally, the information 331 sent and output to the buyer can be composed of the natural numbers of the set of yarn packages including zero. According to the examples in Tables 1 to 3, the four highest - ranked sets of yarn packages, A, D, B, E are output, while the lowest - ranked set of yarn packages C is not output. In the example of FIG. 3, the ranking 331 is in the form of graphic symbols described with reference to the fourth column (r”) of Table 3 above.

[0069] A further output in the third region 303 of the user interface 300 can be the ranking 332 of the spinning factories M, P, N, Q that supply the sets of yarn packages A, D, B, E ranked in output 331, respectively. In the example of FIG. 3, the ranking 332 of the spinning factories is in the form of graphic symbols, similar to the ranking r” of the yarn packages described above with reference to the fourth column of Table 3. It is assumed that the four sets of yarn packages A, D, B, E are provided by four different spinning factories 2, but the same spinning factory 2 may provide one or more yarn packages 93.

[0070] The example of FIG. 3 shows that the rank 332 of the spinning mill does not necessarily coincide with the rank 331 of the yarn package. In this example, spinning mill M that produced the highest-ranked yarn package set A is not the highest-ranked spinning mill. The highest-ranked spinning mill P produced only the second-highest-ranked yarn package set D. For example, the rank 331 of the yarn package may be based on the average value of the measured quality variable values, while the rank 332 of the spinning mill may be based on the coefficient of variation of the measured yarn parameter values. Therefore, the buyer can choose either the set of yarn packages A with the best average variable value but possibly a large dispersion or the set of yarn packages D with a poorer average variable value but more consistency. Of course, the buyer may also choose the set of yarn packages B of spinning mill N or the set of yarn packages E of spinning mill Q due to a significantly lower price or lower requirements of the yarn buyer regarding yarn quality.

[0071] The rank 331 of the set of yarn packages and the rank 332 of the spinning mill 2 facilitate the buyer's selection. The ranks 331 and 332 are based on objective measured values.

[0072] Either or both of further information about the four sets of yarn packages A, D, B, E and further information about the spinning mills M, P, N, Q can be transmitted from the server computer system 1 to the client computer 8 and displayed to the buyer (on a display).

[0073] When the buyer is the end consumer of the yarn, the information received from the server computer system 1 (arrow 72 in Fig. 1) may constitute an offer from the spinning mill 2 to the buyer. After receiving the offer 72, the buyer can select one or more of the provided sets A, D, B, E of yarn packages and send a corresponding order from the client computer 8 to the server computer system 1 via the global communication network 7. Alternatively, the order may be placed through the buyer's enterprise resource planning system or the buyer's supply chain management system, which may be independent of the server computer system 1 in this invention. The order form specifies the selected set or group of yarn packages and indicates the order quantity. The server computer system 1 receives the order, manufactures the ordered set or group of yarn packages, and transfers them to the provided spinning mill 2 or group of spinning mills 2. The transfer of the purchase request is indicated by arrow 62 in Fig. 1. Thereafter, the spinning mill 2 starts shipping the ordered set of yarn packages to the buyer.

[0074] On the other hand, when the buyer is a broker, the information received from the server computer system 1 can be transferred to one or more of its customers (not shown in Fig. 1), for example, in the form of an offer. The customer or customers can then place a purchase request with the broker and the server computer system 1 according to the present invention or via an alternative route.

[0075] It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. A person skilled in the art, by having knowledge of the present invention, will be able to derive further variations that are part of the subject matter of the present invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0076] 1 Server computer system 11, 13 Communication means 12 Database 2 Spinning mill 3 Yarn winding machine 31 Winding position 4-thread monitoring system 41-thread sensor 42-data line 43-thread monitoring control unit 5-cloud connector 6-global communication network 61-data transmission 62-transfer of purchase request 7-global communication network 71-purchase request 72-information and offer regarding the top set of thread packages 8-client computer 91-cup 92-thread 93-thread package Tables 12 of the database from 201 to 203 Rows 201 of the first table: 211, 212,... Rows 202 of the second table: 221, 222,... Rows 203 of the third table: 231, 232,... Columns 201 of the first table: 250, 260 Columns 202 of the second table: 250, 271, 271,... Columns 203 of the third table: 250, 281, 282,... 300-user interface Regions of the user interface from 301 to 303 311-thread count 312-thread material 313-fiber processing system 314-spinning system 315-intended use 316-desired quantity of the desired thread 321-temporary availability of the thread 322-desired price of the thread 323-evaluation of the supplier 324-desired supplier of the thread 325-desired brand of the thread 331-information regarding the set of thread packages, ranking of thread packages Ranking of 331 textile factories

Claims

1. A method implemented on a computer for trading yarn packages (93) manufactured by a winding machine (3) of at least one spinning mill (2), comprising: receiving, by a server computer system (1) from a spinning mill (2) that manufactured the yarn package (93) on the winding machine (3), a set of measured values of at least one yarn quality variable measured by at least one sensor (41) on the winding machine (3) for the yarn (92) on the yarn package (93) and further information regarding the yarn package (93) via a global communication network (6); assigning, by the server computer system (1), a package identifier of each respective yarn package (93) to the set of measured values and the further information; storing the set of measured values, the further information, and the assigned package identifier in a database (12) on the server computer system (1); receiving, by the server computer system (1) from a client computer (8), a purchase request (71) including yarn specifications via a global communication network (7); searching for and obtaining a plurality of sets of yarn packages using the package identifier from the database (12), the step of searching for and obtaining a plurality of sets of yarn packages where the further information matches the yarn specifications for all packages of each set of obtained yarn packages; ranking, by the server computer system (1), the obtained sets of yarn packages according to the set of measured values assigned to the yarn packages of each set of yarn packages; transmitting, by the server computer system (1) to the client computer (8) via the global communication network (7), information (71) regarding the natural number of the set of yarn packages having the highest rank in the performed ranking; The method implemented on the computer as described above.

2. The set of measured values is as follows: Coefficient of variation of yarn mass, coefficient of variation of yarn diameter, hairiness, number of thick places, number of thin places, number of periodic yarn defects, number of yarn count variations, number of foreign objects, number of splices The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, which relates to at least one variable from the set of

3. Said further information is the following Thread count, thread material, fiber processing system, spinning system, intended use, available amount of yarn packages, temporary availability of yarn packages, price of yarn packages The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 or 2, which is from the set of

4. Said yarn specifications are the following Thread count, thread material, fiber processing system, spinning system, intended use, desired amount The computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is from the set of

5. Said database (12) is a relational database, Said package identifier is assigned one-to-one to each set of measured values and to each of the further information, and in addition The computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said package identifier is used as a key of said relational database (12).

6. The computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said ranking is made on an ordinal scale or a metric scale.

7. Said ranking is In the form of a value calculated from a set of measured values, In the form of a quantile or percentile assigned to a set of yarn packages, In the form of an ordinal number assigned to a set of yarn packages, In the form of a class to which a set of yarn packages is classified The computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is at least any one of

8. The computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each average value of said yarn quality variables calculated for the entire set of yarn packages is taken into account in the calculation of said ranking.

9. The computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the natural number of the set of yarn packages with the highest ranking is greater than 1 and less than the number of the set of the obtained yarn packages.

10. An order is received by the server computer system (1) from the client computer (8) via the global communication network (7), the order specifying a set or group of selected yarn packages and indicating an order quantity, the method implemented on a computer according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Upon receiving the order, the server computer system (1) transfers the order to a spinning mill (2) that manufactured the set of ordered yarn packages, the method implemented on a computer according to claim 10.

12. Receiving, by the server computer system (1) via the global communication network (6), a value of at least one environmental variable specific to environmental conditions at a location and time of winding of the yarn package (93) from the spinning mill (2); Modifying, by the server computer system (1), the set of measured values to predefined environmental conditions based on the value of the at least one environmental variable and creating a set of corrected values; Replacing, in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the set of measured values with the set of corrected values The method implemented on a computer according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising.

13. The yarn package (93) is manufactured in a plurality of spinning mills (2), and the method comprises Assigning, by the server computer system (1), a factory identifier for each spinning mill (2) to the set of measured values and the further information; Storing the assigned factory identifier in the database (12); Searching for and retrieving, from the database (12) using the factory identifier, a set of yarn packages such that each all-yarn package of the retrieved set of yarn packages is manufactured in the same spinning mill (2) The method implemented on a computer according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising.

14. A server computer system comprising means for executing the method implemented on a computer according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A computer program comprising instructions for causing the server computer system (1) to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13 when executed by the server computer system (1).

16. A reference server computer system for a yarn package (93) manufactured by a winding machine (3) in at least one spinning mill (2), Receiving, via a global communication network (6), from a spinning mill (2) that manufactured the yarn package (93) on the winding machine (3), a set of measured values for at least one yarn quality variable obtained by measuring the yarn (92) on the yarn package (93) by at least one sensor (41) on the winding machine (3), A receiver (11) for receiving, via the global communication network (6), further information regarding the yarn package (93) from the spinning mill (2), A processing device that assigns a package identifier for each yarn package (93) to the set of measured values and the further information, A memory that stores the set of measured values, the further information, and the assigned package identifier in a database (12), A receiver (13) for receiving, via a global communication network (7), a purchase request (71) including yarn specifications from a client computer (8), A processing device that searches for and retrieves a set of yarn packages from the database (12) using the package identifier, wherein the further information matches the yarn specifications of all the packages in the retrieved set of yarn packages, A processing device that ranks the retrieved set of yarn packages according to the set of measured values assigned to the yarn packages in the set of each yarn package, A transmitter (13) that transmits, via the global communication network (7), information regarding at least the set of yarn packages that obtained the highest evaluation in the performed ranking to the client computer (8) A reference server computer system for a yarn package (93) manufactured by a winding machine (3) in at least one spinning mill (2), comprising the above.

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