Ad-Hoc Goods Movement Software Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large and complex enterprise software systems require scalable and cost-effective architecture designs for ad-hoc goods movement, with existing solutions struggling to efficiently integrate multiple components across different hardware platforms.
Innovation Solution
A software architecture design for ad-hoc goods movement applications, structured as multiple process components interacting through service operations, including Accounting, Inventory Processing, Site Logistics Processing, and Supply and Demand Matching components, allowing for scalable deployment across separate hardware platforms and effective reuse of process components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If enterprise software systems are structured as large and complex monolithic systems, then comprehensive functionality is achieved, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the enterprise software system into multiple independent process components (Accounting, Inventory Processing, Site Logistics Processing, Supply and Demand Matching) that can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently. Each process component encapsulates specific business logic and interacts through well-defined service interfaces, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal process component framework that can handle multiple types of goods movement processes (ad-hoc, planned, cross-docking, etc.) through a common architecture. The service interface definitions enable the same component structure to serve multiple business functions, reducing complexity through standardization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If software components are distributed across multiple hardware platforms, then system scalability and fault tolerance improve, but integration and coordination become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces service interfaces as intermediary layers between distributed process components. These standardized interfaces act as mediators that simplify communication and coordination across multiple hardware platforms, enabling scalable deployment while managing integration complexity through consistent interaction patterns.
3Ease of manufacture
If process components are reused across multiple deployment units, then development cost and time are reduced, but interaction management between components becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into modular process components that can be independently developed and reused. Each component has a specific, well-defined responsibility (e.g., Accounting handles financial transactions, Inventory Processing manages stock levels), which simplifies interaction management despite the number of components through clear separation of concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses service interfaces as intermediaries that standardize interactions between reused process components. This standardization enables components to be freely composed and reused across different deployment units without increasing interaction management complexity, as all communications follow the same interface contracts.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing ad-hoc goods movement. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component that records the relevant business transactions for valuation and profitability analysis; an Inventory Processing process component that handles the management of inventory and the recording of inventory changes and may provide services to maintain current stock, handling unit content, logistics operating unit content, and allocation content; a Site Logistics Processing process component that handles the preparation, physical execution, and confirmation of logistics processes within a site; and a Supply and Demand Matching process component that combines the tasks necessary to ensure that sufficient material receipt elements exist to cover material demand while taking available capacity into account.